Key facts
- Edouard Philippe stated Marine Le Pen's proposals could 'crack open' the EU.
- Philippe called Le Pen's budget plans 'grotesque' and 'fantasy' savings.
- Le Pen's pension reform cost estimate of €9 billion annually contrasts with Institut Montaigne's estimate of €34.7 billion.
- Philippe criticized the EU's 2035 combustion engine ban as 'disastrous'.
- Philippe called for high tariffs on cars not manufactured in Europe.
- Philippe advocated for European sovereignty in artificial intelligence.
French center-right presidential candidate Edouard Philippe accused his far-right rival Marine Le Pen of attempting a de facto Frexit with her euroskeptic campaign promises. Philippe stated at POLITICO's Paris Competitiveness Summit on Tuesday that Le Pen's proposals to unilaterally demand a drastic cut to France’s contribution to the EU budget could 'crack open' the bloc.
Philippe, a fiscal conservative, described Le Pen's budget plans, unveiled last week, as 'grotesque' and accused her of pitching 'fantasy' savings. Le Pen's fiscal plans have faced scrutiny, with progressive think tank Terra Nova noting they were 'riddled with errors and contradictions.' Philippe specifically questioned Le Pen's ability to estimate the cost of her proposed pension reform, which would lower the legal retirement age to 62. Le Pen stated in August the reform would cost €9 billion a year, while the Institut Montaigne estimated it at €34.7 billion annually.
Philippe is positioning himself as a voice of reason in a campaign dominated by populist rivals, emphasizing a fiscally conservative agenda to address France's ballooning public debt and budget deficit, which remains above 5% of GDP and in breach of EU rules. He argued that France needs to regain fiscal credibility on the European stage.
In a broader European agenda, Philippe called for less regulatory burden, more focus on investment, and a tougher approach to China. He criticized the EU's 2035 combustion engine ban as 'disastrous' and suggested that carmakers should manufacture in Europe to gain access to the European market, proposing high tariffs for those who do not. Philippe also aligned himself with President Macron on the need for European sovereignty in artificial intelligence, expressing concern about U.S. companies profiting from European savings and data.