The head of the Rassemblement National party, Jordan Bardella, and Prime Minister Gabriel Attal engaged in a heated debate on the France 2 television program two weeks before the European elections. Bardella focused on nationalizing the issues, criticizing Emmanuel Macron and his government’s handling of the economy, immigration, ecology, and unfair competition. Attal, on the other hand, emphasized the importance of the elections, highlighting challenges such as war in Europe, climate change, and artificial intelligence. The two debated on topics like energy transition, immigration, and European defense.
Bardella, a first-time Member of European Parliament, described Europe as “the sick man of developed economies,” pointing to economic decline and the risk of France losing international influence. He proposed changing the rules and functioning of the EU, advocating for fair trade over unrestricted free trade, and increasing tariffs. Attal criticized Bardella’s proposal for national preference in public procurement, warning of negative consequences for French businesses if implemented. The debate also touched on environmental policies, with Bardella questioning the feasibility of the government’s ambitious climate goals.
On agriculture, Bardella expressed support for protecting French agricultural interests by limiting free trade agreements that threaten local industries. Attal defended the government’s opposition to certain trade deals, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the French agricultural sector. The discussion then shifted to migration, with Bardella proposing a double border system within the EU to control the movement of non-EU citizens. Attal questioned the practicality and implications of such a system, highlighting the complexities of border control within the Schengen area.
The debate concluded with a discussion on Russia and the war in Ukraine, with Attal accusing Bardella and the RN party of having questionable ties to Moscow. Bardella denied any pro-Russian sentiments, condemning Russian aggression in Ukraine and expressing concerns about collective naivety towards Putin’s intentions. Despite criticism of the debate format’s lack of fairness in terms of speaking time, all major party leaders are set to participate in another debate on BFM-TV on Monday, May 27th. Overall, the debate highlighted contrasting views on key issues facing Europe and the importance of the upcoming elections.
