Mustapha Tossa
A French parliamentary report has revealed new political facts about the far-right’s sympathy, led by Marine Le Pen, with the Russian leadership’s military projects in Ukraine, their sources, and their political backgrounds. This parliamentary investigation has shown that the financial loan obtained by Marine Le Pen from a Russian bank to finance her electoral campaign is the key factor shaping her political convictions and her admiration for President Vladimir Putin.
While these facts have been known and circulated in the media, it is the first time that a documented parliamentary report has officially dedicated attention to them, including the formal hearing of several witnesses, including the far-right leader Marine Le Pen. She vehemently denied being under the influence of the Kremlin and refuted any connection between her political stances and the Russian financing of her electoral campaign. She justified turning to the Russian bank by stating that French banks had closed their doors to her and refused to grant her the necessary loans.
The significance of this parliamentary accusation against the far-right in the sensitive French political context is that it delivers a severe blow to Marine Le Pen, especially as some polling institutes have begun to discuss the possibility of her winning the upcoming presidential elections. The underlying issue raised by this political scandal is how the French people can place their trust in a leader of an extreme right-wing party who appears to have a very narrow margin of maneuvering when it comes to Russian leadership. To the extent that some have even described this party as a compliant political tool in the hands of President Vladimir Putin.
It should be noted that this scandal serves the interests of both left-wing and right-wing parties in France, which are still in search of prominent figures who can represent their colors and embody their hopes in the upcoming presidential race. This scandal also adds to what is commonly referred to as the glass ceiling in the media, which typically prevented the far right from reaching the helm of power in France.