"Putin 존경" Pro-Russian Actions by French Le Pen... Distancing After Ukraine War

Photo by AFP·BBC

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] "I respect President Vladimir Putin, who prioritizes the interests of Russia and the Russian people."

Marine Le Pen, the National Rally (RN) candidate aiming to become France's first far-right president, has publicly shown a pro-Russia stance in the past. If Le Pen wins the runoff on the 24th following the first round of the presidential election held on the 10th (local time), it is expected to have repercussions on the Ukraine war. This is because cracks could form in the European Union's (EU) response, which is pressuring Russia with large-scale sanctions.

According to major foreign media, Le Pen has repeatedly expressed respect for President Putin, saying that he has made Russia strong again. In a 2014 interview with German media, Le Pen said she respects leaders who protect their homeland’s interests and respects President Putin as much as former German Chancellor Angela Merkel. During the 2017 presidential election, she even included a photo of herself shaking hands with President Putin in her promotional materials.

This connection has led her to support Russia’s actions. When Russia justified the forced annexation of Crimea through a referendum in 2014, Le Pen publicly supported the referendum results. Just before the outbreak of the Ukraine war in February, she blamed the United States, saying, "The crisis occurred because the U.S. tried to bring Ukraine into NATO."

Behind Le Pen’s statements is financial support from Russia. According to the BBC, Le Pen received a loan of 11 million euros (about 1.47 billion KRW) from a Russian bank in 2014. French banks were reluctant to lend to the far-right National Rally, which emphasized racism and anti-Semitism, so Russia was the alternative. Foreign media report that Le Pen is still repaying this loan.

However, since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Le Pen has distanced herself from Russia. As her rival, President Emmanuel Macron’s approval ratings rise and hers plummet, Le Pen has avoided related remarks. While maintaining an anti-immigration stance, she has mentioned accepting Ukrainian refugees.

President Macron is focusing his attacks on this. During his recent campaign, he has emphasized Le Pen’s ties with Russia. On the 5th, addressing Le Pen, he said, "If you want to rely on Putin or Russian capital, don’t look at me. Look at another candidate. Don’t forget this."