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French far-right leader Marine Le Pen, the frontrunner in next year's presidential election, called Wednesday for an end to European Union support and pre-accession policies for Türkiye and said the European Commission's role should be cut back to a secretariat serving member states.
"Pre-accession policies, support to Türkiye and development programs must end," Le Pen told a news conference in Brussels ahead of an EU leaders' summit.
Le Pen leads French polls ahead of the April-May 2027 vote, and a victory for the National Rally candidate could harden Paris' stance on Türkiye's EU relationship and the bloc's enlargement.
The far-right leader said the Commission had overstepped its powers and should withdraw from areas such as health and internal security.
She said France would not accept the Commission exercising diplomatic powers or taking on military or intelligence roles.
She also vowed to oppose any further EU enlargement, a longstanding position.
Current candidates include Ukraine, Albania and Montenegro.
"He wanted a powerful Europe. Instead, we got a powerless Europe," Le Pen said of President Emmanuel Macron.
"We were supposed to have a Europe of borders. Rather, we got a Europe that is open to the entire world."
She said the Commission "constantly overreaches" and should return to being a "secretariat serving" the member states.
Le Pen denounced efforts to agree to the EU’s 2028-2034 budget before France’s election as "an attempt to preempt and stifle upcoming democratic choices."
"We are being asked to accept its lock-in more than a year ahead of time. None of this is serious," she said, calling an early adoption a "democratic scandal." She reiterated plans to cap France’s contribution at 5 billion euros ($5.6 billion).
"We know there will be a tough debate, even a trial of strength," Brussels told the Financial Times (FT).
A Toluna Harris The interactive poll for RTL put Le Pen at 35% to 37% in the April 18 first round. A runoff, if needed, is scheduled for May 2. Macron is barred from seeking a third term.
Separately, an Ifop survey for Marianne magazine found that 46% of Muslims in France would consider leaving the country if Le Pen wins, including 20% who said they would definitely leave, as Le Pen’s EU agenda, including on Türkiye, comes under scrutiny.
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