German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has expressed concern about the strong performance of France’s right-wing nationalist party National Rally (RN) in the first round of elections there.
“It cannot leave anyone cold if (…) in our closest partner and best friend there is a party that sees Europe as the problem and not as the solution, far ahead,” Baerbock said on Monday, referring to the strong performance of Marine Le Pen’s party in Sunday’s French snap elections.
She said that Germany and France – the two largest countries in the European Union – share a special responsibility for a Europe.
“In a democracy, of course, elections are in the hands of the voters,” Baerbock said, adding that as Germany’s foreign minister she has a special responsibility not to interfere in the domestic politics of another country.
The RN and its allies took the lead in the first round of the snap parliamentary elections, with 33% of the vote. The left-wing alliance New Popular Front is at almost 28%, while the centrist camp of President Emmanuel Macron has just over 20%.
Next Sunday, the second round of elections will take place, which will determine the majority of seats in the French National Assembly.
