DistantNews
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท France /Elections & Politics

French Sovereignist Dupont-Aignan Calls for Swift Exit from EU to Restore Borders and French Law

From Le Figaro · (14m ago) French Critical tone

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • French sovereignist presidential candidate Nicolas Dupont-Aignan advocates for France's swift withdrawal from the European Union.
  • He proposes rebuilding a "light, Gaullist" Europe based on cooperation between free nations.
  • Dupont-Aignan outlines a three-phase exit strategy, emphasizing restoring French borders and the primacy of French law over EU directives.

Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, a prominent sovereignist figure and candidate for the 2027 French presidential election, has forcefully called for France to leave the European Union as quickly as possible. Speaking at a prominent media forum, Dupont-Aignan articulated his vision for a restructured Europe, one he describes as "light" and "Gaullist," where individual nations retain their freedom while engaging in cooperation.

We are not leaving to leave, we are leaving to rebuild something and to find the right axis of strong, free nations that manage themselves but cooperate among themselves.

โ€” Nicolas Dupont-AignanExplaining his rationale for advocating an exit from the EU.

His stance is a clear rejection of the current European integration model, which he argues has sidelined national sovereignty. Dupont-Aignan lamented the erosion of state power, stating, "The states are short-circuited, there is no longer a state, there is not even a Bank of France anymore." He believes that exiting the EU is not merely an act of separation but a necessary step to "rebuild something" and establish a framework for "strong, free nations that manage themselves but cooperate among themselves."

Dupont-Aignan, who recently secured a decisive victory in the municipal elections in Yerres, outlined a pragmatic, three-stage plan for France's departure. The initial phase involves ceasing net contributions to the EU budget, estimated at 15 billion Euros annually. Subsequently, France would re-establish its national borders and assert the supremacy of French law over European regulations, thereby ending compliance with Brussels' directives.

The states are short-circuited, there is no longer a state, there is not even a Bank of France anymore.

โ€” Nicolas Dupont-AignanLamenting the perceived loss of national power within the EU framework.

He explicitly distanced his proposal from the British model, stating, "France must not leave in the English way." This suggests a desire for a more orderly and perhaps less disruptive exit than Brexit. Dupont-Aignan expressed confidence that France would not be alone in such a move, believing other European nations would follow suit in creating this "light" Europe. However, he concluded with a resolute statement: "If there is no one, well, we will be alone, but we will be free."

I think that now we must disengage as quickly as possible.

โ€” Nicolas Dupont-AignanUrging for a swift French withdrawal from the European Union.

This call for a French exit resonates with a segment of the electorate disillusioned with the perceived bureaucracy and loss of national control associated with the EU. Dupont-Aignan's platform taps into a deep-seated desire for national sovereignty and self-determination, positioning him as a distinct voice in the French political landscape, challenging the established pro-European consensus.

France must not leave in the English way.

โ€” Nicolas Dupont-AignanDifferentiating his proposed exit strategy from the UK's Brexit.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.