LFI deputies will vote against the French aid strategy for Ukraine, at the end of the debate organized Tuesday in the National Assembly, announced the rebellious group. Insoumise France thus affirms to vote “against the war” and “against the enlargement of NATO and the European Union” to Ukraine, claiming its differences with the socialists, who for their part will support the security agreement sealed between France and Ukraine on February 16.
The National Assembly is expected to approve the aid strategy for Ukraine on Tuesday during a debate and a symbolic vote which, in the midst of the European election campaign, will highlight divisions on the left and the delicate position of the National Rally . The outcome of the vote, expected in the evening, should be largely favorable, with the support of the Les Républicains group, socialists and environmentalists.
A vote against the backdrop of a campaign for Europeans
Two years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Macronists hope to point out the “ambiguities” towards Russia of the RN, which will abstain, and of LFI which will vote against. Gabriel Attal set the tone on Saturday during the presidential camp’s first European campaign meeting, by increasing attacks against “the Le Pen clan”, accused of “weakness” and “softness” in the face of Vladimir Putin’s Russia. The president of the RN, Jordan Bardella, justifies the abstention of his group by evoking “red lines” including the sending of ground troops and the possible accession of Ukraine to NATO and the European Union .
Three months before the June 9 election, aid to Ukraine has become one of the key themes of the European campaign, particularly since Emmanuel Macron’s comments at the end of February who did not rule out sending ground troops and does not want to put “any limits” on support for kyiv. This presidential posture is invoked by LFI to justify its vote against, because “we are opposed to France being the leader of the war camp”, according to its coordinator Manuel Bompard.
LFI in opposition to the socialists
The Insoumis also explain that they are hostile to the possible enlargement of NATO and the EU to Ukraine. Same speech among the communists. “We are not going to say no to solidarity with Ukraine but no to the escalation of war,” argued MP Sébastien Jumel.
The divergence is clear on the left with the socialists. “Do you really think that NATO is an aggressor of Russia? The pacifists are in the west, but the missiles are in the east,” launched their first secretary Olivier Faure to the rebels and the communists. Vladimir Putin “does not want to negotiate” and is waiting for the return of Donald Trump, he judged. “Our line is clear: for support for Ukraine, for the delivery of weapons, for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, against any sending of ground troops”, affirmed for its part the head of environmentalist deputies, Cyrielle Chatelain.