a long love story, thwarted since the invasion of Ukraine

“Manipulation”, “Political trial”… Marine Le Pen castigated in all tones, Thursday, June 1, this document which details the “ideological proximity” of the RN with Vladimir Putin and his support for the Russian leader, in particular since Marine Le Pen recognized in 2014, against the advice of the international community, the annexation of Crimea.

Nothing factually proves in the report that this support is a counterpart to the Russian loan granted to the RN, but let’s say that this thread in the dough is particularly embarrassing. Marine Le Pen has taken out a loan of nine million euros from a Russian bank. He was picked up by an oligarch close to the Kremlin, who granted him appreciable financial facilities. “When you talk to Russia, you talk to your banker!”had swayed Emmanuel Macron during the debate between the two rounds in 2022.

Beyond this financial link, the relationship between the French extreme right and Russia is a long love story that goes back to Jean-Marie Le Pen, against a backdrop of anti-Americanism, denunciation of decadence of the West and a common desire to weaken the European Union.

Change of attitude since the invasion of Ukraine

Marine Le Pen first wanted to hide her closeness to Putin. In February 2022, she had hastily destroyed election documents where she proudly posed alongside the master of the Kremlin. Two months before the presidential election, it didn’t bother her. Admittedly, the RN MEPs approved three resolutions of support for Ukraine, at the very beginning of the conflict. Since then, led by the very Putinian Thierry Mariani, they have abstained or voted against more than 20 times: on arms deliveries to Ukraine, economic support for Kiev, the release of Alexeï Navalny or the establishment of a tribunal on the crimes of aggression of Ukraine. And in the Assembly, the RN deputies did not approve the application for membership of Finland and Sweden in NATO. In short, only positions that please Putin!

Last week, testifying before the commission of inquiry, Marine Le Pen again repeated that Crimea has always been Russian. Which earned him to be showered with praise by the Russian press under the orders of the Kremlin. It was the least of things.