debates on France’s support for Ukraine promise to be tense in the National Assembly

MEPs will speak on Tuesday during a debate followed by a non-binding vote on the bilateral security agreement signed between France and Ukraine in February. Less than three months before the European elections, the sequence risks turning into a settling of scores.

Inflammable debate in the National Assembly. “There is no consensus today to send ground troops in an official, assumed and endorsed manner. But dynamically, nothing must be excluded”: the comments made by Emmanuel Macron on February 16, after the signing of a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine, stirred up part of the French political class. The deputies will vote on Tuesday March 12 on the aid strategy for Ukraine during a debate and a symbolic vote, which should serve as a ground for clashes between Macronists, RN and LFI in the middle of the European campaign.

The Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal, will kick off the debates around 4:30 p.m., before the intervention of the political groups then a vote, without binding value, expected around 8 p.m. Concluded for a period of ten years, this text includes a strengthening of military cooperation, particularly in the areas of artillery and air defense. In 2024, Paris promises to provide “up to three billion euros in additional support“, funding that the oppositions could question while the government has just announced a series of budget cuts.

“Flight forward” to the left

But in the corridors of the Bourbon Palace, the atmosphere has been tense for several days. “The concern goes beyond political divisionsbelieves the deputy for France insoumise Arnaud Le Gall. We cannot agree to condone this headlong rush. It is unthinkable to be in a situation of direct war against a nuclear power.”

For his part, the head of the PS list for the European elections, Raphaël Glucksmann, judges the “useful debate” For “clarify each other’s lines” and calls “all those who are attached to democracy and the security of Europe to vote for this agreement”. “We are in favor of the agreement. But our vote will depend on Gabriel Attal’s declaration“, nuance the socialist group.

“Red lines” of the RN

If the communist deputies have already made it known that they will vote against the text, at the other end of the political spectrum, the National Rally announces that it will abstain. Jordan Bardella, president of the RN, indicated that his deputies will abstain “for a very simple reason” : “On this text, the principle of which we can support, there are red lines. First red line, Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. We are opposed to any form of enlargement. Ukraine’s entry into the European Union could increase the risk of escalation as we would need military assistance to a country at war within the Union“, explained Jordan Bardella on France 2.

A reasoning supported by RN deputy Laurent Jacobelli, who denounces all connections with Russia: “We have no ties with Russia. This is all a fantasy!”

“It deserves more than an electoral campaign”, denounce the LR

However, this is a ready-made campaign argument for Emmanuel Macron’s troops, accused, in return, by the opposition of exploiting the war in Ukraine before the European elections, the first round of which is on June 9. “The string is a little big and I think the French realize thattackles the Les Républicains deputy, Antoine Vermorel-Marques. But the worst part of all this is that you are playing with human lives. We are talking about an armed conflict, it deserves more than an electoral campaign and political politics.”

A scent of settling scores which will still hover on Wednesday March 13 at the Palais du Luxembourg with a debate and a vote, still non-binding.