Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella launched the campaign for the European elections on June 9 in Marseille on March 3, 2024. Marine Le Pen met with Pierre Moscovici at the Cour des Comptes to discuss France’s financial situation. Moscovici sought to educate Le Pen on the country’s finances, as part of his efforts to engage with all party leaders. Le Pen, who previously advocated for leaving the euro, has shifted her stance in recent years to focus on repaying the national debt. This change in approach is aimed at gaining credibility on economic issues and attracting older voters who are still hesitant to support the National Rally (RN) party.
In an effort to present herself as a serious contender on economic matters, Le Pen has been vocal about her commitment to repaying the national debt. She has refrained from proposing debt cancellation as a solution to France’s economic challenges, even as public debt levels have soared in recent years. Le Pen has criticized Emmanuel Macron for leaving a “field of ruins” for future leaders due to the country’s deteriorating financial situation. Despite her resolve to reduce debt, Le Pen still faces criticism for the lack of specificity in her proposals and has been accused of incompetence by some commentators.
While Le Pen has outlined her goal of debt reduction, she is still in search of a clear strategy to achieve this objective. She has called on economists and experts to help refine and quantify her proposals, acknowledging a degree of uncertainty in her approach. This call for collaboration has not shielded Le Pen from further criticism, as some commentators have questioned the feasibility and effectiveness of her economic strategies. Despite attempts to engage with economic policy issues, Le Pen continues to face skepticism about the credibility of her proposals, particularly in light of France’s economic challenges and budgetary constraints.
The RN party led by Marine Le Pen has historically struggled to gain credibility on economic and financial issues, which has been a barrier to their electoral success. While the party may benefit from the government’s budgetary challenges, it still faces skepticism about the effectiveness of its proposed solutions. Older voters, in particular, remain hesitant to support the RN party due to doubts about its economic policies. Le Pen’s efforts to reposition her party as a credible force on economic matters are aimed at addressing these concerns and broadening the party’s appeal to a wider range of voters.
In the lead-up to the European elections, Marine Le Pen has emphasized her commitment to repaying France’s national debt as part of her economic platform. While she has faced criticism for the lack of specificity in her proposals, Le Pen remains determined to position herself as a serious contender on economic issues. As she seeks to refine her economic strategy and gain credibility with voters, Le Pen faces ongoing challenges in convincing skeptics of the viability of her policies. The success of the RN party in the upcoming elections will depend on its ability to overcome these obstacles and present a compelling vision for France’s economic future.
