‘I don’t know if it reassured or worried them’: European envoys quiz Le Pen over lunch
The far-right candidate briefed ambassadors from France’s neighboring countries about her EU agenda.
On Wednesday, a group of European ambassadors met with National Rally presidential candidate Marine Le Pen at the Hôtel de Beauharnais in Paris. The meeting focused on her future EU agenda, with Le Pen pledging to reduce EU institutions, turn the European Commission into a secretariat, and cut France's contribution to the EU budget.
The eight-country group of ambassadors, which includes Germany, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Monaco, and Andorra, met with conservative presidential candidate Bruno Retailleau in September and plan to host meetings with other presidential hopefuls in the coming months. One ambassador's aide, who accompanied Le Pen, said they were unsure whether the meeting reassured or worried the ambassadors, stating that they can now report back to their capitals about Le Pen's plans.
Le Pen was also questioned about bilateral issues and her stance on U.S. President Donald Trump, whose popularity has been affected by the war in the Middle East and its economic consequences. The ambassadors, except for Andorra and Monaco, are part of the Schengen free-movement area.
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