National Rally's Stance on Dual Nationality Creates Controversy
Two weeks before the first round of the legislative elections, the French far-right party, National Rally (RN), led by Marine Le Pen, finds itself in a swirl of controversy. RN deputy and Vice-President of the National Assembly, Sébastien Chenu, made headlines following his appearance on C8, where he asserted that an RN-led government would abolish dual nationality for all French citizens, except for dual European nationals. "A nationality says a lot about who you are and what you are attached to," Chenu stated, emphasizing the importance of a singular national identity.
The issue arose when it was noted that this stance on dual nationality, a considerable talking point in the 2017 presidential elections, is no longer part of RN's current program. In recent years, the National Rally has been attempting to soften its image by dropping some of its more controversial policies. This inconsistency did not go unnoticed by internet users, prompting Chenu to quickly issue a public retraction on X, stating, "Marine Le Pen has renounced this measure and does not intend to return to it! At least, it's clear. Error corrected."
The Macronist camp, keen to capitalize on RN's internal discord, seized the moment to criticize the ideological fluctuations within the National Rally. Minister of Justice Éric Dupond-Moretti took to social media to mock Chenu’s backpedaling, saying, "Marine Le Pen changes her mind so much that even poor Chenu no longer knows where he lives. He defends for 10 minutes a measure that she disowned a few months ago." Similarly, Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin joined in, claiming, "The RN is lying to you! RN: One day, a ReNiement."
- This incident underlines the ongoing struggle within the National Rally to present a coherent and unified policy front ahead of the upcoming legislative elections. The controversy adds to the RN's challenges, as it is already battling poor performance in the polls and facing threats to its parliamentary presence.
- The measure to abolish dual nationality was once a prominent feature of Marine Le Pen's presidential campaigns, aimed at solidifying French national identity. However, the party’s recent shift appears to be a strategic move to broaden its appeal among the electorate.
- The Macronist camp's quick response highlights the political stakes involved in the legislative elections. Both camps are vigorously jockeying for position, and such missteps by the RN provide ample ammunition for their opponents.
