Le Pen vs. Macron: French Nationalist Leader Accuses President of Planning ‘Administrative Coup’

Marine Le Pen, the French nationalist right-wing leader, has accused President Emmanuel Macron of planning an “administrative coup” to hinder her party’s freedom of action should they come to power. Le Pen expressed hope that these allegations were just rumors during an interview with France Inter where she pointed out the unusually high number of appointments made at the recent Council of Ministers.

Le Pen claimed that Macron plans to appoint the directors general of the police and gendarmerie, as well as multiple prefects and other administrative positions. Despite France’s commitment to democracy, Le Pen finds Macron’s actions surprising and believes they are aimed at obstructing the democratic process.

After the National Rally’s success in the first round of legislative elections, Le Pen’s party is poised to potentially secure a majority in the upcoming second round. To govern effectively, the National Rally must secure an absolute majority of at least 289 out of 577 deputies. Le Pen has already outlined plans for governance, with candidate Jordan Bardella as prime minister and herself as head of the parliamentary group.

If they fall short of an absolute majority, Le Pen has suggested seeking support from other deputies, such as those from The Republicans, to pass key legislative projects. While respecting constitutional rules, Le Pen emphasized that their foreign policy decisions would differ from Macron’s, particularly regarding military interventions abroad.

Le Pen reiterated her party’s support for Ukraine against Russian aggression but emphasized caution in military involvement to avoid escalating conflicts. If elected, Le Pen’s party aims to lead the government in a manner that aligns with their principles while respecting existing constitutional frameworks.