Latest news with #pro-Macron
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Most French support assistance to Ukraine, sending peacekeepers, poll shows
Roughly two-thirds of the French favor maintaining or increasing aid to Ukraine and sending peacekeepers after the end of hostilities, BFM TV reported on March 4, citing a survey by the Elabe Institute. Many European leaders have reiterated their ongoing support for Ukraine amid U.S. President Donald Trump's push for a swift deal to end the war. Still, some allies in Europe fear that they will have to shoulder the economic and security burdens of Ukraine's post-war recovery as the U.S. and Russia exclude them from talks on ending the war. Some 64% of respondents want France to continue providing assistance to Ukraine. Meanwhile, 20% of respondents believe that the amount of aid must be increased, and 44% think that it should be at the same level as it is now, according to the survey. Another 18% of respondents believe support must be reduced, and 17% say it should be terminated. Voters of the pro-Macron centrist coalition Ensemble, as well as the left-wing New Popular Front, are in favor of continued aid, while voters of the right-wing National Rally (FN) mostly want it reduced or terminated, BFM TV reported. France has allocated around 4.9 billion euros ($5.3 billion) in military assistance to Ukraine as of December 2024, the Kiel Institute for the World Economy said. This included Caesar howitzers, AMX-10RC armored vehicles, and Mirage 2000 jets. While ranking high in overall support, France has allocated a smaller portion of its GDP to support Ukraine than some smaller European nations, like the Netherlands, Denmark, or the Baltic countries. Though the share of those who want to continue supporting Ukraine has been growing since June 2024, three out of four respondents say they are not ready to pay more taxes for this purpose. Only 24% say they are ready to contribute. Around 68% of respondents opposed deploying French soldiers to Ukraine while the hostilities are ongoing. At the same time, 67% support sending peacekeeping troops after the signing of a peace agreement with Moscow to guarantee security and peace in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer have been spearheading the idea of deploying peacekeeping troops to Ukraine to monitor a ceasefire. Regarding NATO, 40% of respondents favored Ukraine's accession after the war, and 30% now. Some 35% of respondents favored Ukraine joining the European Union after the war, and 31% favored it now. While President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Ukraine's preferred postwar security guarantee is NATO membership, the U.S. leadership has severely undercut that aim in the past few days. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said during the Ramstein summit on Feb. 12 that Ukraine's NATO membership was not a "realistic outcome" of peace negotiations. He also said that a return to the country's pre-2014 borders was "an unrealistic objective." Read also: 'I received an important letter from President Zelensky' — Trump says Ukraine, Russia ready to end war We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Majority of French support continued aid to Ukraine and deployment of peacekeepers
Around two-thirds of French citizens are in favour of continuing aid to Ukraine and sending peacekeepers after the end of hostilities, according to a survey conducted by Elabe for BFMTV. Source: European Pravda Details: 64% of respondents want France to increase (20%) or maintain (44%) its military aid to Ukraine. Meanwhile, 18% believe the support should be reduced, and 17% think it should be halted entirely. Support for continued aid is highest among voters who support the pro-Macron coalition Ensemble (Together for the Republic), the NFP (New Popular Front) and right-wing parties, while opposition mainly comes from voters who support the far-right Rassemblement national (National Union) party. Despite growing support for aid to Ukraine since June 2024, three out of four French citizens say they are unwilling to pay greater taxes to support it. A total of 43% are entirely unwilling, with 24% willing to contribute more through taxation. Furthermore, 68% of respondents oppose deploying French troops to Ukraine before the war ends. However, 67% approve the deployment of peacekeepers following an agreement on peace with Moscow to protect Ukraine's security and stability. Opinions are also divided on Ukraine's accession to NATO and the EU. Regarding NATO, 40% support Ukraine joining after the war, 30% want it to join now while 29% are against it. For EU membership, 35% support accession after the war, 31% want Ukraine to join now, and 33% oppose membership altogether. Previously, just over half of Americans stated they personally support Ukraine in its war against Russia, but few believe that President Donald Trump is on the same side. Meanwhile, concern over the war in Ukraine has risen among Dutch citizens, particularly in light of Trump's administration seeking reconciliation with Russia. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Local France
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Local France
French interior minister bids to lead party ahead of 2027 polls
Retailleau, in his post since last year, has emerged as one of the most high-profile ministers in the government, with his tough stances on issues ranging from immigration to relations with Algeria striking a chord with voters. Taking the leadership of his right-wing Les Républicains (LR) and launching a bid for the presidency would replicate the tactics of Nicolas Sarkozy, who won the 2007 elections after serving as interior minister under the late former president Jacques Chirac, and then leading the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party. "I invite each of you to join me, to build this great movement of hope that the right must embody, for the French people we serve and for the France we love," Retailleau, 64, wrote on social media. "Together, in the midst of accelerating events, let us embody this desire for recovery and unity, so that the right can write a new page in the history of our country." The LR, the successor to the UMP and which traces its origins to postwar leader Charles de Gaulle, was the party of both Chirac and Sarkozy. It sees itself as the natural party of power in France. But it has been out of power since Sarkozy lost the 2012 elections to Socialist François Hollande. "Today, I want to do for my party what I do at the head of my ministry: speak the truth and act quickly," Retailleau wrote in a message to members, confirming that he would stand at a spring party congress, a copy of which was obtained by AFP. He now risks a head-on clash with Laurent Wauquiez, the head of LR deputies in parliament, who is also eyeing a presidential run in 2027. Retailleau was taking the "heavy responsibility of opening a war of chiefs", a source close to Wauquiez told AFP. But Retailleau had said in his message: "I do not want new fissures and new wounds in our party." The seat of the chief of the LR has been vacant since Eric Ciotti was pushed out after he agreed a controversial alliance with the far right in last summer's legislative elections. With centrist President Emmanuel Macron unable to stand again after serving the maximum two terms, the 2027 presidential polls are set to be a major turning point in modern French history. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen is seen as having her best ever chance of winning the presidency after three unsuccessful attempts. But her hopes of even standing could be blocked if she is convicted in a fake jobs trial at the end of March on charges she denies. Other figures who could challenge her on the right and centre-right include former premier Edouard Philippe and Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin. Darmanin said on Sunday that a primary could be needed to select the best candidate on the pro-Macron centre right to prevent too many hopefuls taking part in the first round.
