the government expects a more “fruitful” dialogue with the left than the RN, Le Pen evokes a “very bad signal”

New standoff in sight between the National Rally (RN) and the government? A month after the historic censorship of Michel Barnier, adopted thanks to the alliance of all the oppositions in the National Assembly, the party with the flame sees red. While a new prime minister, François Bayrou, was appointed more than three weeks ago, his Minister of the Economy is already angering nationalist leaders. A few hours before launching consultations with political forces to prepare the 2025 budget, Éric Lombard estimated this Monday morning on France Inter that the dialogue was shaping up to be more “fruitful” with the left-wing parties, excluding La France Insoumise (LFI) – which refuses to exchange with him – and with the movement chaired by Jordan Bardella.

A course of action which is reminiscent of the first hiccup of the Barnier government when the former boss of Bercy Antoine Armand had, barely appointed in September, refused to receive the leaders of the RN in his offices as part of discussions on public finances. Enough to provoke the anger of the nationalist right party, which immediately raised the threat of censorship. To the point that the then Prime Minister had to make a phone call to Marine Le Pen and sharply reframe his young minister.

“Better to have an enemy”

Four months after this highly publicized standoff, the leader of the RN deputies is raising her voice once again. “When you have a friend like Mr. Lombard, it’s better to have an enemy”mocked Marine Le Pen Monday evening on BFMTV, affirming that the minister's exit “sends a very bad signal”. “It’s not very diplomatic”she squeaked. And the former presidential candidate to urge the government to “co-construct a budget with all political forces” present at the Palais Bourbon.

Recounting having spoken for a few moments by telephone with Éric Lombard, Marine Le Pen said: “Considering that the dialogue is not going to be fruitful when it has not taken place… I know that Mr. Lombard has affinities with the left, I do not blame him for that, but if he could less showing it, it could be pretty good.” According to her, the virtues of a discussion with all political groups are incompatible with her attitude aimed at “dismiss any ability to successfully find a path.”

With the misstep of his predecessor in mind, Éric Lombard nevertheless tried to smooth things over this Monday morning. Without aligning “necessarily” on the red lines of the leader of the RN deputies, he said “open” au «dialogue“. The meeting, scheduled for Friday, between him and RN officials in Bercy will undoubtedly not take place under the best auspices.