Le Pen and Bardella break from party's Russia-friendly past to condemn asset seizures

Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, the leaders of France's National Rally, jointly condemned Russia on September 19 after Moscow placed the French operations of retailer Auchan and Swiss food giant Nestlé under temporary administration — a move the party called 'a hostile act against the interests of France and the nations of Europe.'

We will never tolerate a foreign power, in this case, Russia, seeking to dictate, directly or indirectly, the policy of our country through intimidation, threats, destabilization or psychological pressure.— Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, joint statement

The statement is notable for a party that has been openly divided over whether to treat the Kremlin as an adversary. Those divisions came into sharp relief when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022: Le Pen has a long record of warmer relations with Moscow and has met President Vladimir Putin in the past, whereas Bardella has shown greater readiness to characterize Russia as a threat to France and Europe, according to Politico.

The asset seizures that prompted the statement follow a mechanism Russia introduced in 2023 for companies from countries it designates as 'unfriendly.' Under that mechanism, Moscow has previously placed the Russian operations of French dairy producer Danone and Danish brewer Carlsberg under temporary administration before transferring or selling them to Russian owners, according to the Kyiv Independent. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the latest seizures were Moscow's answer to European sanctions and European backing for Ukraine.

Nestlé said it was reviewing its options and working to safeguard its employees and business interests, according to the Kyiv Independent.

The joint statement also came one day after French President Emmanuel Macron chaired a rare crisis meeting at the Élysée Palace on Friday, at which political leaders — including Bardella — were briefed by French intelligence services on threats posed by Russia's hybrid operations and the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, according to Politico and Il Foglio. The timing suggests the briefing may have sharpened the party's public positioning.

Le Pen and Bardella connected the asset seizures to what they described as a broader deterioration in Europe's security environment, pointing to the drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany, which German authorities have attributed to Russia. The two politicians urged France to bolster the protection of strategic infrastructure, sensitive facilities, and defense-industry companies, and voiced solidarity with European countries targeted by suspected Russian sabotage or destabilization campaigns.

No provocation, clandestine operation, or destabilization effort could lead France to facilitate Russia's achievement of its war aims in Ukraine.— Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, joint statement

The statement was careful to preserve space for domestic political debate. Le Pen and Bardella maintained that debate over the scope and terms of French support for Kyiv remains a legitimate matter for internal discussion — a reflection of Le Pen's stance that she is willing to provide military equipment to Ukraine while ruling out any additional financial assistance, according to Politico.

Firmness in the face of hostile actions and the pursuit of a diplomatic resolution to the war are not contradictory.— Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, joint statement

France's foreign policy is decided in Paris.— Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, joint statement

According to Politico and the Kyiv Independent, the National Rally plans to publish its full campaign platform before year's end, a document that could spell out the party's stances on Ukraine and Russia ahead of France's presidential election, whose first round is set for April 18, 2027. Le Pen has stated her intention to succeed Macron as president.

The National Rally's historical ties to Russia include a €9.4 million loan the party took from a Czech-Russian bank with links to the Kremlin. According to Politico, that loan has since been repaid.

Why it matters — The statement signals a potential shift in how France's leading opposition party — one with historical financial and political ties to Moscow — intends to position itself on Russia ahead of a presidential election it hopes to win.

Reported by politico.eu, kyivindependent.com, ilfoglio.it, franceinfo.fr