Again accused of links with Russia, the RN denounces “a cabal”

Moscow would have moved closer to the far-right party to try to weaken France’s support for Ukraine, according to an investigation by the “Washington Post”.

Relations between the National Rally and Russia interest newspapers on the other side of the Atlantic. The American daily The Washington Post accuses the RN in an investigation published on December 30 of persistent links with the Kremlin, with a view to weakening France’s support for Ukraine.

According to the investigation, Russia is carrying out a subversion enterprise in France, in which the party chaired by Jordan Bardella plays an important role. The daily quotes “Kremlin documents, obtained by a European security service” involving Vladimir Putin’s entourage. The methods combine the influence of social networks, oriented using “troll farms”, and the support of far-right parties. The broader goal is to destabilize Europe, according to the Washington Post.

The newspaper also claims that Jean-Luc Schaffhauser, a former MEP affiliated with Marine Le Pen’s party, “rents a floor of his residence” in Strasbourg at number two of the Russian embassy in France, which sat on the Council of Europe until its exclusion in March 2022.

“A cabal”, according to the RN spokesperson

“It’s all a cabal”reacted the spokesperson for the RN Laurent Jacobelli on South Radioasserting that there was no “no link” between Russia and his party. Marine Le Pen “condemns the invasion of Ukraine from the start! (…) There is no connection!”he added, denouncing “old moons”.

“The RN is indeed the spokesperson for the Kremlin in France” And “plays a leading role in relaying Putin’s propaganda”wrote the presidential Renaissance party in a message on “drive belt” of Russian power. Marine Le Pen then denounced a report “dishonest and completely politicized”.