Meloni’s EU lieutenant urges Brussels to work with Le Pen

Nicola Procaccini, leader of the European Conservatives and Reformists group, urged the EU to work closely with Marine Le Pen if she wins the French presidential election. Procaccini, who is Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's EU lieutenant, said the EU institutions and the center-right European People's Party must be "courageous" when it comes to working with the far-right Patriots party in Brussels.

He stated that Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, who are likely to become prime minister under a Le Pen presidency, are "reasonable people, pragmatic people, like Meloni." Procaccini also said the French duo "will defend the national interest but without crazy things" such as withdrawing from the EU. He hoped Le Pen would adopt a "Meloni way" of dealing with the Commission, meaning being pragmatic, frank, open, honest, and coherent.

However, EPP vice chair Sigfried Mureșan expressed concern that Le Pen's leadership could radicalize the anti-European party in France. Despite this, Procaccini welcomed the National Rally's proposal to halve its EU budget contribution, as his group does not believe in a super-giant budget.