Key facts
- Russia placed the Russian operations of French retailer Auchan and Swiss food giant Nestlé under temporary administration.
- Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella condemned the move as a "hostile act" against French and European interests.
- The Kremlin described the seizures as a response to hostile actions by European countries, including sanctions and support for Ukraine.
- Le Pen and Bardella stated that French foreign policy is decided in Paris and cannot be determined by Moscow.
- The mechanism used by Russia was previously applied to assets of French dairy producer Danone and Danish brewer Carlsberg.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen and National Rally president Jordan Bardella condemned Russia's decision to place the Russian operations of French retailer Auchan and Swiss food giant Nestlé under temporary administration. The politicians described the move, made on September 19, as a "hostile act" that infringes on the rights of European companies operating in Russia.
Le Pen and Bardella stated that no Russian provocation should lead France to aid Moscow's war aims in Ukraine, while acknowledging that the level and conditions of French support for Kyiv remain legitimate subjects of domestic debate. They emphasized that France's foreign policy is decided in Paris and cannot be dictated by Moscow or any other foreign capital.
The Kremlin, through spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, characterized the seizures as a response to hostile actions by European countries, including sanctions and support for Ukraine. This mechanism, introduced in 2023 for companies from "unfriendly" nations, has previously been used against French dairy producer Danone and Danish brewer Carlsberg. Nestlé stated it is assessing its options to protect its employees and business interests.
The condemnation comes as France approaches its April 2027 presidential election. Le Pen and Bardella linked the asset seizures to a deteriorating European security environment, citing an attempted drone attack in Germany attributed to Russia and warnings from European governments about potential Russian hybrid operations.