In France too, political leaders have their eyes trained on the United States. Within the far right, if Eric Ciotti and those responsible for Reconquest! openly display their support for Donald Trump, the National Rally, in its quest for recognition, is much more discreet than during the 2016 and 2020 elections.
Criticizing “the drift towards the left and the ultra-left” democrats supporters, according to him, of a “mass irregular immigration” and a “terrifying wokism”Eric Ciotti estimated Tuesday that an election of former President Donald Trump “would be more beneficial for economic and political balances” of the world. « J’assume mes positions »he argued, in a small dig at Jordan Bardella's party.
In 2016, Marine Le Pen openly campaigned for Donald Trump, whose anti-system, anti-immigration and protectionist discourse echoed that of the National Front, which became the National Rally. Rebelote in 2020. “If Joe Biden were elected, it would be a real disaster”she said, sending a delegation from her party to Donald Trump's last meeting.
Nothing so obvious this time. “I am French, I never comment on foreign elections”repeated Tuesday the RN deputy Jean-Philippe Tanguy on TF1. Not that the National Rally hides its preference, but its support is much more allusive. “Donald Trump defends the interests of Americans and defends a form of American pride. And I love this patriotism”declared Jordan Bardella last week.
For his part, Jean-Luc Mélenchon announced on Tuesday that if he had to vote, his choice would be the ecologist Jill Stein or the Democrat Kamala Harris depending on whether he lived in a swing state or not. For the “rebellious” leader, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and her Republican rival Donald Trump are “similar but not identical” : “both cover the genocide” in Gaza, “agree on capitalism”, “on the fact that super profits should not be taxed” et “for doing nothing in the field of public health”.
More “there is a fundamental difference” between the two candidates: “Mr Trump is against the right to voluntary termination of pregnancy” while « Mme Harris defends this idea »observes Mr. Mélenchon in a video published on YouTube.
So, if he voted in a swing state, his vote would go usefully for Kamala Harris. But if he lived in a state whose electorates are guaranteed to be Democrats, Mr. Mélenchon would vote for the ecologist Jill Stein, whom he finds “close to the “rebellious””explaining that he wanted to put an end to the “crazy bipartisanship” of the United States.
