Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally party in France, is not seeking to hold a referendum on leaving the European Union if she wins next year's presidential election. This is clearly highlighted amid rumors and misinformation regarding her positions on social media.
History of Le Pen's Positions on the European Union
Le Pen has been a staunch critic of the European Union in the past and supported the UK's exit from the EU after the Brexit referendum in 2016. She emphasized leaving the EU and abandoning the euro in her election campaigns in 2012 and 2017. However, in the 2022 elections, she changed her stance and instead of calling for an exit, she demanded fundamental reforms in the EU. She now wants to reduce Brussels' powers and transform the Union into a looser coalition of independent countries.
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Developments in European Far-Right Parties
Le Pen's change of position reflects a larger trend among far-right parties in Europe. In the past, far-right politicians in various countries like the Netherlands and Italy called for similar referendums, but these demands have decreased in recent years. However, recently Geert Wilders, leader of the far-right Freedom Party in the Netherlands, has once again called for a reconsideration of his country's membership in the EU.
Despite Le Pen leading in polls with around 33 to 36 percent of the votes, research shows that French society is increasingly supportive of the European Union. A recent poll indicated that 49 percent of the French would vote to remain in the EU if a referendum were held.
Although Le Pen is not currently considering a referendum on leaving the EU, she has suggested putting issues such as combating "Islamist ideologies" and limiting immigration to a public vote. These proposals may fuel rumors about holding a referendum.
While Le Pen seeks to capitalize on her position in next year's elections, changes in her stances and increasing public support for the EU could pose serious challenges for her and her party.
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