Earlier this week, National Rally leader Jordan Bardella insisted that a future French government (which he hopes to lead) should choose a European Commission candidate other than Macron. On Thursday, the party’s convention leader Marine Le Pen said Macron would be limited to an “honorary” role in defending and commanding the French military.
“France has not yet chosen. Who are they to explain to us how the (National Rally) constitution should work? Who are they? What kind of political culture are we talking about? Come on! We have to respect France,” an angry Macron said.
The French president also condemned his opponents’ “unbridled racism and anti-Semitism” and suggested the far right was more dangerous than the left.
Asked whether he equates the far left with the far right, he said: “I don’t have the general confusion with all other political groups.”
French parliamentary elections take place in a first round this Sunday and a second round on July 7, with voters likely to choose between the National Rally and the left-wing New Popular Front.
Macron declined to say whether the president or the prime minister would have the power to nominate France’s EU commissioner.
