Marine Le Pen fears an “irresponsible decision for the interests of France.” The head of the deputies of the National Rally (RN) explains this Thursday, March 13 in Europe 1, why their troops are “reserved” on the question of the seizure of frozen Russian assets, after a resolution in this regard in the National Assembly.
“First, because in terms of international law, it is prohibited,” explains the triple presidential candidate, and then emphasizes that “if he begins to do this, he runs the risk of no investment in France.”
Finally, “if the European Union decides to confiscate Russian assets in the European Union, how many assets of the countries of the European Union in Russia?”
And insist: “In any case, there will be a return of Stick, for an effect of the parallelism of forms. I think not to think about that, not having the elements on the table before making this decision, it would be irresponsible for the interests of France.”
Executive opposition so far
The seizure of Russian assets, “it seems to me that Emmanuel Macron is also against,” said Marine Le Pen in his interview.
“We can take advantage of the income of frozen assets, but we cannot take the assets themselves, because it does not respect international law. And we want to respect international law,” said the President of the Republic on February 24 during his meeting with Donald Trump in the White House.
This Wednesday, the deputies adopted a resolution on the strengthening of support for Ukraine. This in particular urges “the European Union and its member states to be carried out without delay in the seizure of frozen and immobilized Russian assets, (…), to finance military support to Ukraine in its resistance and reconstruction.”
This text, which has no binding value, but allows deputies to wait to weigh on the executive line, was adopted by 288 votes and 54 against. The deputies of the presidential countryside, the environmentalists, the Socialist Party and the Les Repudgic party supported him, while the rebellious France and the communist deputies have spoken. The RN has refrained.
Until now, EU countries have used the profits released by the 235 billion frozen Russian assets, which represent an unexpected gain of 2.5 to 3 billion per year. Like Emmanuel Macron, the government has reservations. “The total seizure of these assets raises legal questions” and “the question of the previous economy that could represent for foreign investors,” the Minister responsible for Europe Benjamin Haddad in the hemicycle said on Wednesday.
“That said, (…) is a lever that we have in the balance of power and in negotiations with Russia,” he added, without addressing the inclusion of this measure in the text.
The deputy of the Independent Group Liot Laurent Mazaury, also a recipient of the text, said that the “usual law” makes it possible to use assets if they are “well dedicated to the problem of defense to Ukraine and the reconstruction of Ukraine”, without “making other uses.”
Marine Le Pen had indicated on Tuesday that he opposed this resolution due to a paragraph about the Ukraine membership to the EU. The text, in its final version, invites the EU to “support the membership process.”
Source: BFM TV
