French far-right leader Le Pen questions president’s role as army chief ahead of parliamentary elections

NICE, France (AP) — With just three days to go until France’s historic legislative elections, the county’s far-right leader on Thursday raised the question of who would be in command of the armed forces if her party takes government after the two . round voting.

Early elections are plunging France into uncharted territory and political scientists are struggling to interpret exactly how the President Emmanuel Macron and a prime minister who is hostile to most of his policies will share power if Marina LePenThe French National Rally obtains a majority in the National Assembly, the lower house of the French parliament.

Le Pen has repeatedly said that Jordan Bardelayour protégé and your party star leader, will lead France’s next government if his party wins. She suggested in an interview that Bardella, 28, will also take on at least some decisions regarding the defense of France and its armed forces. Macron has three years left in his final term as president.

Serving as commander-in-chief of the armed forces “is an honorary title for the president, since it is the prime minister who really controls,” Le Pen said in an interview with Le Télégramme newspaper published Thursday.

The French Constitution states that “the President of the Republic is the head of the armed forces” and that the head of State also “presides over the superior national defense councils and commissions”. However, the Constitution also states that “the prime minister is responsible for national defense”.

Constitutional experts say the prime minister’s exact role in foreign policy and defense appears to be subject to interpretation.

The last time France had a prime minister and president from different parties, they largely agreed on strategic defense and foreign policy issues. But this time it could be very different, given the animosity between far-right and far-left politicians. Both blocs appear to deeply resent the centrist, business-friendly president.

Le Pen is confident that her party, which has a history of racism and xenophobiawill be able to translate your impressive triumph in the European Parliament elections earlier this month in a victory in the next two-round legislative vote in France.

The first round will take place on Sunday. The decisive second round is scheduled for a week later, on July 7th.

Polls show that the outcome of early elections remains uncertain amid a complex voting system and potential alliances. Macron is aligned against both the National Rally and the New Popular Front, a coalition from extreme to center-left parties that includes Jean Luc Mélenchon’s Unsubmissive France.

If the National Rally wins a mandate from a majority of voters to form a new government, Le Pen said Bardella, who has no experience in governance, will try to be firm but not hostile to the incumbent president.

“Jordan has no intention of starting a fight with (Macron), but he has set limits,” Le Pen said. She added: “In Ukraine, the president will not be able to send troops.”

In March, Macron warned Western powers against showing any signs of weakness to Russia and said Ukraine’s allies should not rule out the possibility of sending western troops to Ukraine to help the country against Russia’s aggression.

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Associated Press correspondent Sylvie Corbet in Brussels contributed to this report.