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Le Pen woos Putin in quest for campaign funding | World | The Times & The Sunday Times
Bolded goes to show how interchangeable policies can be at the fringe of the pol. spectrum.
More details on Crimea part of the interview: Marine Le Pen insists Russian annexation of Crimea is totally legitimate | The Independent
On her party's financial issues (prior to the aforementioned interview): French far right short on funds. Can Russia help, again? - The Washington Post
The move seems a bit desperate, just as The Times implied.
Feels like she may be falling out of Putin's favor. Center right Fillon has much better prospects and his stance on Russia is almost the same as Le Pen's. On the downside, Fillon probably won't recognize the Crimea annexation anytime soon and is also not a EU skeptic.
Decisions, decisions...
Marine Le Pen pledged to recognise Russias annexation of Crimea if she became French president as she courted President Putin and portrayed her centre-right rival in this years election as too right wing.
Such a move would signal a sea-change in Europes relations with Russia and put Paris on collision course with London and Berlin, which both condemn the annexation.
The National Front leader, who hopes that Russian banks will fund her election campaign, went on to woo Mr Putin by backing Russias intervention in Syria and expressing support for President Assad of Syria.
Ms Le Pen was speaking as she set out an election strategy based on leftist economics, an anti-immigration stance, Euroscepticism and a shift in foreign policy towards Moscow.
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Such a move would signal a sea-change in Europes relations with Russia and put Paris on collision course with London and Berlin, which both condemn the annexation.
The National Front leader, who hopes that Russian banks will fund her election campaign, went on to woo Mr Putin by backing Russias intervention in Syria and expressing support for President Assad of Syria.
Ms Le Pen was speaking as she set out an election strategy based on leftist economics, an anti-immigration stance, Euroscepticism and a shift in foreign policy towards Moscow.
...(registration wall)
Bolded goes to show how interchangeable policies can be at the fringe of the pol. spectrum.
More details on Crimea part of the interview: Marine Le Pen insists Russian annexation of Crimea is totally legitimate | The Independent
(...)
Asked for her views on the diplomatic crisis, Ms Le Pen said: I absolutely disagree that it was an illegal annexation: a referendum was held and residents of Crimea chose to rejoin Russia.
Mr Putins forces swept into the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula of Crimea in February 2014.
The Kremlin organised a referendum a month later which saw more than 95 per cent of voters in Crimea back joining Russia.
The British Government branded the referendum farcical and illegitimate.
Russia was subsequently hit with sanctions and fierce criticism by the EU and UN as well as national governments including the UK and France.
However, the far-right candidate, who has promised to work more closely with Mr Putin if she wins the presidency on April 17, said she saw no reason to dispute the result of the referendum.
I see no grounds whatsoever to question this referendum, she said.
Asked if she viewed Crimea as a part of Russia, Ms Le Pen replied, Yes.
(...)
Asked for her views on the diplomatic crisis, Ms Le Pen said: I absolutely disagree that it was an illegal annexation: a referendum was held and residents of Crimea chose to rejoin Russia.
Mr Putins forces swept into the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula of Crimea in February 2014.
The Kremlin organised a referendum a month later which saw more than 95 per cent of voters in Crimea back joining Russia.
The British Government branded the referendum farcical and illegitimate.
Russia was subsequently hit with sanctions and fierce criticism by the EU and UN as well as national governments including the UK and France.
However, the far-right candidate, who has promised to work more closely with Mr Putin if she wins the presidency on April 17, said she saw no reason to dispute the result of the referendum.
I see no grounds whatsoever to question this referendum, she said.
Asked if she viewed Crimea as a part of Russia, Ms Le Pen replied, Yes.
(...)
On her party's financial issues (prior to the aforementioned interview): French far right short on funds. Can Russia help, again? - The Washington Post
Money, and how to get it, has dogged French far-right presidential contender Marine Le Pen for years.
Now, as her National Front partys treasurer says its looking everywhere for the 20 million euros ($21 million) needed to fund upcoming campaigns, she may be looking to Russia for cash again.
While foreign donations to French political parties are barred, loans are not. But its still a daring prospect for a party whose finances have already drawn unwanted scrutiny.
(...)
Le Pens firm rejection of foreign influence would make fishing for finances outside French waters a no-go, were it not for her Russia-friendly stance and what party officials say is the refusal of French banks to lend money to the anti-immigration National Front.
Funds are needed to finance campaigning for the April-May presidential vote and June parliamentary elections. Party officials deny recent reports that they have already received a new loan from a Russian establishment but no one is denying that the party may be asking for one.
(...)
We are looking everywhere. We are working discreetly, party treasurer Wallerand de Saint Just told The Associated Press. The National Front needs 20 million euros for its electoral campaigns, and already has a portion of it, he said in a telephone interview, without specifying the amount in hand. Theyre not ruling out funding requests from sources including Russia, the United Arab Emirates, or even the United States, he said.
The party borrowed 9 million euros in 2014 from the small First Czech Russian Bank, but the banks license was revoked this year, Saint Just said. Other Russian banks might consider a new loan.
(...)
Now, as her National Front partys treasurer says its looking everywhere for the 20 million euros ($21 million) needed to fund upcoming campaigns, she may be looking to Russia for cash again.
While foreign donations to French political parties are barred, loans are not. But its still a daring prospect for a party whose finances have already drawn unwanted scrutiny.
(...)
Le Pens firm rejection of foreign influence would make fishing for finances outside French waters a no-go, were it not for her Russia-friendly stance and what party officials say is the refusal of French banks to lend money to the anti-immigration National Front.
Funds are needed to finance campaigning for the April-May presidential vote and June parliamentary elections. Party officials deny recent reports that they have already received a new loan from a Russian establishment but no one is denying that the party may be asking for one.
(...)
We are looking everywhere. We are working discreetly, party treasurer Wallerand de Saint Just told The Associated Press. The National Front needs 20 million euros for its electoral campaigns, and already has a portion of it, he said in a telephone interview, without specifying the amount in hand. Theyre not ruling out funding requests from sources including Russia, the United Arab Emirates, or even the United States, he said.
The party borrowed 9 million euros in 2014 from the small First Czech Russian Bank, but the banks license was revoked this year, Saint Just said. Other Russian banks might consider a new loan.
(...)
The move seems a bit desperate, just as The Times implied.
Feels like she may be falling out of Putin's favor. Center right Fillon has much better prospects and his stance on Russia is almost the same as Le Pen's. On the downside, Fillon probably won't recognize the Crimea annexation anytime soon and is also not a EU skeptic.
Decisions, decisions...
