Bardella warns Brussels: France won't soften under his presidency

French far-right politician Jordan Bardella has made clear that if he becomes president, he has no intention of following Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's path from EU-sceptic protester to pragmatic power player. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron is preparing for a G7 summit in Évian, where his main challenge will be keeping Donald Trump engaged in discussions.

French far-right politician Jordan Bardella has sent Brussels a clear message: if he reaches the Élysée Palace, he has no intention of softening his EU-sceptic positions. Unlike Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who moved from a protest politics position into the role of a pragmatic power player within the EU, Bardella promises to openly confront Europe.

Bardella's plans for the EU

In an interview with journalist Marion Sollety, Bardella outlined his vision of France's relationship with the EU. He does not regard Meloni's strategy as a model and signals that under his leadership, relations between Paris and Brussels would become significantly more tense. Bardella is known for his euro-sceptic positions, and his rise on the French political landscape has concerned leaders across European capitals.

Bardella's growing popularity is a significant signal for all of Europe. France is one of the EU's founding members and a core force, so far-right leadership in Paris would strongly affect the functioning of the union as a whole.

G7 summit in Évian

Meanwhile, Emmanuel Macron is preparing for the G7 summit in Évian, where France is the host nation. Macron's main challenge is to keep Donald Trump actively engaged in discussions covering issues related to China, Ukraine and the Middle East. Trump's unpredictable behaviour at international forums has complicated summits in the past, which is why Macron's diplomatic role this time carries particular responsibility.

Beyond political matters, one decision affecting urban transport has emerged on the agenda: Brussels has announced it will ban shared e-scooters from 2027 onwards.