France could quit EU unless it learns Brexit lesson warns Barnier
MICHEL Barnier has warned that France could vote to quit the European Union unless the bloc learns lessons from Brexit.
The former negotiator urged top Eurocrats to heed the warnings of the UK departing and listen to disgruntled citizens before it was too late to stop the EU project’s collapse.
He said there are already signs of “social unrest and anger” over Brussels’ failures to defend the interests of ordinary citizens.
He blasted Eurocrats for ignoring their legitimate concerns – such as illegal immigration and the “red tape and complexity” of the EU.
Disastrous
The Frenchman’s stark warning comes as opinion polls show growing support for Eurosceptic Marine Le Pen ahead of next year’s presidential elections.
Mr Barnier is eyeing up his own run at the French presidency and has not been shy in criticising Brussels since stepping down as its Brexit chief.
Speaking at an event in northern France, Mr Barnier said: “We could draw some lessons from Brexit.
“There are reasons we can find, not just in the UK, but here in France, in the northern and eastern regions… you know, citizens who want to leave the EU.”
Brussels currently finds itself under mounting public pressure over its disastrous role in the EU’s joint Covid-19 vaccines buy-up.
Mr Barnier added: “It’s important for us to listen to the anger expressed in the UK and implement the kind of changes necessary to better reassure the European citizens that remain.”
French voters will go to the polls next April in an election that could be make or break for the bloc.
Latest opinion polling shows
National Rally leader Ms Le Pen, who has previously championed a “Frexit”, is on course to win the first round of the contest with 25 per cent of the vote. Pro-Brussels President Macron is forecast to secure a slender 54-46 per cent win in the second round, much smaller than his 66-34 per cent margin four years ago.
Ms Le Pen has sought to detoxify her party’s image and distance herself from her father’s far-Right past.
She says Boris Johnson’s electoral demolition of Labour’s heartlands is her inspiration in her bid to capitalise on Mr Macron’s dwindling popularity.
IFOP pollster Frederic Dabi said: “The results reflect Le Pen’s strong dynamic as well as President Macron’s difficulties in the health crisis context.
“Never before, with only one year to go to the ballot, has a National Rally candidate obtained such scores.”