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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: France Elections European Security
HEADLINE: French Elections: Le Pen's Late Surge Rattles Europe Amid Russian Security Threat
TEASER: Far-right challenger for presidency pledges to redraw country's relations with EU, NATO and Russia
PUBLISHED AT: (4/22/22 & TIME)
BYLINE: Henry Ridgwell
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: London
VIDEOGRAPHER: Henry Ridgwell
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Reifenrath, Holly Franko, DJ OK
VIDEO SOURCE (S): APTN, Reuters, AFP, Teams, Skype
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TYPE: VPKGN
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO))
[[France goes to the polls Sunday for the final round of voting in the presidential election — with far-right leader Marine Le Pen just a few points behind incumbent Emmanuel Macron. As Henry Ridgwell reports, a Le Pen victory would have big implications for European security at a critical time, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.]]
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF LE PEN AND MACRON CAMPAIGNING))
((NARRATOR))
The final days of campaigning — where every vote could matter in Sunday’s runoff.
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF DEBATE))
In a televised debate Wednesday, Emmanuel Macron sought to highlight links between Marine Le Pen’s far-right party and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Her National Rally party took a loan from a Kremlin-linked bank in 2014.
((Emmanuel Macron, French President)) [[ in French]]
“For our country, this is bad news, because you depend on the Russian regime and you depend on Putin.”
((NARRATOR))
Le Pen said no French bank would lend her money — so she went to Russia.
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF LE PEN WITH PUTIN))
What would a Le Pen presidency mean for Europe’s security at a time of conflict?
Her approach to Russia is in stark contrast to that of most Western leaders.
((Marine Le Pen, French Ppresidential candidate (in French) ))
“As soon as the Russian-Ukrainian war is over and has been settled by a peace treaty, I will call for the implementation of a strategic rapprochement between NATO and Russia.”
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF NATO WEAPONS BEING DELIVERED TO UKRAINE))
((NARRATOR))
Le Pen has criticized the supply of heavy weapons to Ukraine. And she wants to weaken French links with NATO.
((Marine Le Pen, French presidential candidate (in French) ))
“Once elected president, I will leave NATO’s integrated command, but I won’t renounce the application of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty on collective security.”
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF NATO SUMMIT))
((NARRATOR))
A Le Pen victory would severely weaken Western unity against Russia, says analyst Renaud Foucart.
((Renaud Foucart, Lancaster University (in English) ))
((cf. mandatory Skype logo))
“She has been among the first if not the only French candidate to recognize Crimea, the annexation of Crimea by Russia. So very, very clearly she will not be in favor of stronger sanctions. She has opposed them, and she has been very, very vocal about opposing sanctions on fossil fuels, on gas, on oil from Russia.”
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF LE PEN CAMPAIGNING))
((NARRATOR))
But in recent weeks, Le Pen has risen in the polls — despite her past links with a Russian regime accused of war crimes. Gérard Araud is a former French ambassador to the United Nations.
((Gérard Araud, Former French Ambassador to UN)) ((via Teams, so no courtesy needed))
“She has distanced herself somehow really from Putin. She has condemned the attack against Ukraine. Second point, you know in France — like in the U.S. — elections are decided not on foreign policy issues but on domestic policy issues. And like in the U.S., France is facing a wave of inflation.”
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF FRENCH VOTERS))
((NARRATOR))
Le Pen has focused her campaign on the cost of living — and has characterized Macron as an aloof president more obsessed with Europe than France.
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF EUROPEAN UNION HQ))
For years, Le Pen campaigned for France to leave the EU. Now she says so-called "Frexit" is not her policy. Instead, she wants to reform the bloc.
((Gérard Araud, Former French Ambassador to UN))
“But actually she is going to change it so dramatically, so radically, that actually either she won’t implement her program or she will leave the European Union.”
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF UKRAINE WAR))
((NARRATOR))
A surprise victory for Le Pen would likely send tremors through the transatlantic alliance — with big implications for NATO and the European Union.
((Henry Ridgwell, for VOA News, London.))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateApril 22, 2022 22:43 EDT
BylineHenry Ridgwell
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
