Gov’t spokesman: France election results ‘testimony to EU crisis’

Speaking to Polish Radio on Tuesday, Rafał Bochenek said that the slight margin between Le Pen and the winner of the first round of the elections, Emmanuel Macron, points to a serious crisis in the European Union.

Liberal Macron got 24 percent of the ballot, while Le Pen – who has since stepped aside as the leader of the National Front party – got 21.3 percent.

Bochenek said the result stems from a “crisis that has remained unresolved for months”.

“These elections unequivocally showed that eurosceptic sentiment in France is very visible,” Bochenek said. “Such support for Le Pen shows that even the French have a negative view of European Union politics.”

Bochenek was asked about Macron’s support of a multi-speed policy for Europe, an idea which has been strongly criticised by the governing Law and Justice (PiS) party in Poland.

“These are ideas for the disintegration of the European Union. We cannot agree to such a solution, because this is about the integrity of the European Union and its future,” Bochenek said.

The spokesman also referred to recent media reports claiming that Prime Minister Beata Szydło is set to reshuffle her Cabinet and that Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski could be appointed an ambassador to the UN.

“This information related to the government's alleged reshuffle is of course speculation and once again we have to deny it. This is obviously an attempt to drive a wedge, and a desire to attack the Polish government,” Bochenek said.

(rg/pk)