Kremlin Observes Rise of Far-Right in Europe and French Elections
The Kremlin has expressed keen interest in the rise of far-right parties across Europe and the upcoming snap legislative elections in France. Dmitri Peskov, spokesperson for the Russian presidency, emphasized on Monday that Moscow is "carefully" monitoring these developments. According to Peskov, while the majority in the European Parliament will remain pro-European and pro-Ukrainian, there is a noticeable trend of right-wing parties gaining popularity.
"It seems that over time, the right-wing parties will be on the heels of the pro-European parties, and we are following this process carefully," Peskov added. The Kremlin's interest in these developments stems partly from the generally more favorable stance of many far-right groups towards Russia.
Macron's Legislative Moves in Response to RN's Gains
The situation in France is of particular interest to Moscow, especially because President Emmanuel Macron, seen as a staunch critic of the Kremlin due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, has called for early legislative elections. The move comes in response to the significant gains made by the National Rally (RN) in the recent European elections.
In light of the RN's performance, Macron announced that these elections would be held on June 30 and July 7. Although the RN has distanced itself from Moscow following the invasion of Ukraine, it remains critical of the extensive support that Macron has pledged to Kyiv. Peskov reiterated that Moscow does not wish to interfere in France's internal affairs but noted the "extremely unfriendly, even hostile, attitude" of French authorities towards Russia.
- The dissolution of the National Assembly has had significant economic repercussions. France's borrowing rates jumped following the announcement, causing the Treasury bond rate to rise from 3.09% to 3.15%. This financial instability is further complicated by a notable decline in the CAC 40, a benchmark French stock market index.
- In another unrelated incident, a Chanel boutique on Avenue Montaigne in Paris was rammed with a vehicle early on June 10, raising questions about security in the capital. Additionally, millions of French citizens are facing a steep 11.7% increase in average gas bills, attributed to a rise in distribution prices.
