France's Presidential Election Could Be the EU's Worst Nightmare

France's presidential election, taking place in less than a year, poses a serious threat to the European Union. Current forecasts suggest that two extremist politicians who are sceptical of both the EU and NATO could reach the second round. According to Politico, such a scenario would be a true nightmare for Brussels.

France's presidential election, taking place in less than a year, could become a catastrophic scenario for the European Union. According to analysis by news outlet Politico, current forecasts suggest that the second round of voting could be reached by two diametrically opposing extremist politicians who share a similarly sceptical stance towards both the European Union and NATO.

Extremists Take Centre Stage

If such an outcome materializes, it would mean that French voters would face a choice between two EU-critical candidates, neither of whom represents France's traditionally pro-European course. France has been a founding member of the European Union and has historically played a key role in advancing European integration.

What It Would Mean for the EU

France, together with Germany, forms the so-called engine of the European Union, and a change of direction in the country would affect the functioning of the entire bloc. Electing a EU-critical president to the Élysée Palace would cast doubt on both the unity of the EU and Western allies' cooperation in supporting Ukraine. As a NATO member, France's role is equally critical to Europe's security architecture.