France will investigate alleged parties financing by Russia

French MPs claimed that the action was brought about by the recent declassification of U.S. intelligence, which revealed that Russia had given hundreds of millions of euros to foreign political parties "with the objective to influence elections." The letter to Yael Braun-Pivet, the president of the National Assembly, was presented to reporters.

The eight lawmakers, who are members of the En Marche party of French President Emmanuel Macron, also pointed out that the extreme-right Rassemblement National party of Marine Le Pen is still repaying a loan obtained from Russian financial institutions.

The MPs stated that the facts "clearly imply a Russian will to weigh in the French public debate" and that they "require the setting-up of an investigating committee to discover whether French political parties, and which ones, have profited from Russian funding."

Russia spent $300 million on funding political parties in other countries - US official

The individual gave reporters a phone briefing on a US intelligence community investigation of Russia's attempts to sway international politics. According to the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, Russia has transferred more than $300 million to foreign political parties, officials, and politicians in more than two dozen countries since 2014.

The US official described the actions as "an attempt to manipulate democracies from the inside," including funding for think institutes that back far-right nationalist political parties.

A senior Joe Biden administration official stated on September 13 that the United States anticipates Russia will increasingly turn to covert political financing in the upcoming months to evade international sanctions over the war in Ukraine and preserve Moscow's influence abroad. The official cited declassified U.S. intelligence.

The official, however, omitted to specify which nations were thought to have been the focus of Russian influence operations or to offer concrete proof to support the allegations of covert finance.

Far-left Mélenchon and far-right Marine Le Pen supported Putin’s policy

The Kremlin has chosen far-left Jean-Luc Mélenchon and far-right Marine Le Pen as its favorites for the last two French presidential elections. The good news is that both of them failed twice, although they were not far from a success. But the country was on the verge of political disaster. 

Le Pen and Melanchon got both combined over 40% in 2 last presidential elections 

In the 2022 presidential election Le Pen was second in the first round with 23,15%, and lost the second round to the president Emmanuel Macron. Jean-Luc Melenchon finished third with 21,95% of support. 

In the 2017 presidential election, we saw similar results - in the first round Le Pen got 21,3% and got to the second where she lost to Macron. While Melenchon finished with 19,58% in the first round. That said, in two last presidential elections in France, politicians that advocate Russia’s narrative on the international arena, secured both combined over 40% of votes. It’s alarming.

Both of them, Mélenchon and Marine Le Pen, pledged their loyalty to Russian President Vladimir Putin in world affairs, they opposed a strong Europe, and they failed to condemn Russia’s war against Ukraine. They supported Crimea annexation and Moscow’s narrative towards Ukraine. They also condemned sanctions against Russia. After Russia seized Crimea and started the war in Donbas, both Mélenchon and Le Pen said that Western sanctions against Russia for its part in the Ukraine War are unlawful, stupid, and bad for France.

The Kremlin did not hesitate to leverage Le Pen and Mélenchon for advocating its aggressive actions against Ukraine since 2014. Anti-American sentiment, business ties, or support for an authoritarian rule could be some of their motivations.

Le Pen’s ideas that Putin likes

In a recent speech, Marine Le Pen criticized "inappropriate and ill-considered sanctions" against Moscow, adopted as a response to its war in Ukraine. In defiance of the existence of international law, Marine Le Pen backed Russia's annexation of the Ukrainian Crimean peninsula. By raising the issue of "the right of peoples to self-determination".

Marine Le Pen got the biggest sign of support from the Kremlin. The leader of the French far-right party was received by Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Moscow on March 24, 2017. The meeting was filmed exclusively by the Russian international propaganda television RT.

Annexation of Crimea wasn’t illegal - Le Pen

After she met with Putin, during the presidential campaign, Marine Le Pen said that her first gesture towards Russia, if elected president, would be to consider a rapid lifting of sanctions imposed on Moscow. Le Pen also reportedly promised to recognize annexed Crimea as an integral part of Russian territory, saying the annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula was not illegal.

In her campaigns, Marine Le Pen promised to withdraw from European treaties through a referendum on France's membership in the EU after first engaging in negotiations with European allies. She also pledged for leaving the Schengen zone, and limiting legal immigration. She opposed free trade agreements and wanted to leave NATO.

Le Pen’s party borrowed 9 million euros from a Russian bank

Let's also recall the controversy surrounding the financing of Marine Le Pen's presidential campaign. In 2014, her party, the National Front, borrowed 9 million euros from a Russian bank, the First Czech Russian Bank (FRCB), which has since been placed under supervision by the Russian Central Bank. 

However, the party of the Le Pen family denied in late December 2016 the existence of another loan of 28 million euros, mentioned by the newspaper Le Canard Enchaîné. The FN's loan to the Russian bank has provoked criticism of the Kremlin for trying to interfere in the elections in France.

Melanchon’s ideas that Putin likes

In March 2022, after Russian army invaded Ukraine, and criticized for a position deemed "pro-Russian", the leader of "France insoumise" in an address before the National Assembly said that the delivery of arms to Ukraine by the European Union is not an appropriate response and should be ratified by the French Parliament. Under the booing, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, said that he regretted the decision of the European Union to provide arms to Ukraine to defend itself against Russia. He also condemned Western sanctions against Moscow. 

Far-left leader Mélenchon's stance on foreign policy is characterized by anti-Americanism and anti-NATO. As a result of this anti-US sentiment, he exhibits a closeness to Putin and respect for the former president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, a country that has been suffering from social and economic unrest for years. 

After Crimea's annexation by Russia and during the French presidential campaign, Melanchon said: "We must reconsider all of the borders. Where does the boundary between Russia and Ukraine lie? At the very end of the Crimea? I have no idea. We must discuss it".

The other idea of Mélenchon that would please Putin is to get France out of the European treaties and NATO to get rid of the "imperial follies of the United States". The former leader of the Left Front also said that “we must assure the Russians that Ukraine will never enter NATO”. 

The anti-Americanism, pro-communism and the links of the French far left with Moscow during the USSR period push him towards Russia's policy, even Russia it is not anti-capitalist, as the state and the oligarchies control the whole country’s economy. Consequently, Jean-Luc Mélenchon cannot understand Ukraine's desire for independence. 

Will the funding of Putin’s puppets be proven in France? 

For years political analysts have been alarming that Putin's regime has maneuvered its way into the European Union and has gradually increased its influence within. Numerous far-right, far-left, and Eurosceptic political parties have been supported by Russia. It is not surprising that its leaders in several nations incorporate phrases and concepts from Russia's propaganda narrative into their speeches.

Moscow has been weakening the European Union and undermining the consensus among European nations by employing its far-right and far-left friends. Now, with an investigation to be launched in France, people hope that the truth will come out, and that this covered funding of anti-EU and pro-Moscow parties will be confirmed with solid evidence. In this case, these politicians will bear political and legal responsibility. 

Now, more than ever, European states are determined to get rid of Putin’s local agents of influence in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine and its geopolitical confrontation with the West.