In a meeting of the presidential majority held at the Maison de la Mutualité on May 7th, Gabriel Attal raised the paradox of the current European elections campaign: the camp of the “yes” has emerged as the clear ideological winner. Those who criticized the euro currency, such as Marine Le Pen who referred to it as a burden responsible for various economic issues, have now completely changed their stance. The euro is no longer contested, and the idea of a Frexit is no longer seen as necessary for regaining sovereignty.
Despite these changes, the candidate leading in the polls, Jordan Bardella, remains a fierce opponent of the “yes” camp. At 28 years old, Bardella navigates this contradiction by advocating for an “European alliance of free and sovereign nations,” rather than the current political establishment associated with the euro. He rejects the European Union and European citizenship, proposing a vision of Europe where common projects like Erasmus would continue, but with modifications to things like Schengen free movement and border control being returned to individual nations.
While Bardella’s vision lacks clarity on how to dismantle the current European framework without alienating other EU members, his ambiguity seems to fuel his momentum. Changing Europe from within has become a more popular option than trying to dismantle it from the outside. Marine Le Pen herself abandoned the idea of an euro exit as a central platform in 2017 after her defeat to Emmanuel Macron, realizing that it limited her appeal to certain demographics who were concerned about their savings.
The broader implications of this shift in approach to the European Union are significant. Traditional French political parties are being challenged by the rise of candidates like Bardella who offer a different vision for Europe. The strategy of working within the EU to reform it is gaining traction as a more feasible and less risky approach compared to pushing for radical overhauls. This dynamic has the potential to reshape the landscape of European politics in the coming years, as parties adapt to this new reality and respond to changing voter preferences.
In conclusion, the European elections in France have revealed a paradox where the camp that was historically critical of the euro now finds itself in a position of ideological strength, but with a candidate leading the polls who remains a staunch opponent of the current European political structure. This shift reflects changing attitudes towards the EU and the need for a more nuanced approach to reforming the European project. It remains to be seen how these developments will impact the future of European politics and the direction of the European Union as a whole.
