Le Pen says France can no longer finance Ukraine
Marine Le Pen, France's far-right presidential candidate, said the country can no longer finance Ukraine because of its poor economic state. Current polls suggest she could win next year's presidential election.
Marine Le Pen, France's far-right presidential candidate, said in Brussels on Wednesday that the country can no longer keep financing Ukraine. She justified this by pointing to the grave condition of the euro zone's second-biggest economy. The statement matters because current polls predict that Le Pen will win next year's presidential vote.
What Le Pen said
Speaking to reporters in the Belgian capital, the politician said: "We can no longer finance Ukraine." She added that France is currently in an extremely perilous situation. Le Pen tied her assessment to the country's high deficit and weak economic growth.
Context
The remarks came as EU leaders head into a high-stakes budget battle while elections loom. Current polls forecast that Le Pen will win the presidential election next year.
As reported, her position on funding Ukraine rests on France's fiscal situation, namely the high deficit and sluggish growth. In this statement she did not cite specific figures for the deficit or for the support provided so far, and the source gives none.
The report was prepared by FRANCE 24 with information from Reuters.
