Europe's China ties further tangled by rise of French far right

Rightward swing in EU elections pushes focus to trade, away from values

2024-06-10 FRANCE-ELECTION-NATIONALRALLY.JPG

Rassemblement National's European election posters with photos of its leaders Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella. The party's strong performance in the European elections led French President Emmanuel Macron to call a snap election. © Reuters

CATHERINE DE BEAUREPAIRE and RHYANNON BARTLETT-IMADEGAWA, Nikkei staff writers

BRUSSELS -- French President Emmanuel Macron's decision to call a snap national legislative election following heavy losses to the far right in the European parliamentary polls widens the fissure in the bloc's stance over its relationship with China, analysts said on Monday.

Marine Le Pen's far-right Rassemblement National (RN) is estimated to have won nearly a third of the vote in France for the European elections that took place Thursday to Sunday, more than double the tally for Macron's own party, according to exit polls.

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