France's National Rally will not send its leaders to a meeting with PM Lecornu over recent violence, opting for a vice-president instead.
RN leaders absent from meeting
The National Rally (RN) will not have its leaders, Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, attend a meeting at Matignon, as confirmed by the party on October 19. Instead, one of the party’s vice-presidents will represent the RN at the gathering.Meeting follows weekend violence
The meeting was initiated by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu in response to the violence that occurred on October 17 and 18. This unrest involved clashes between protesters and police, prompting calls for dialogue among political leaders.RN describes meeting as non-political
Jean-Philippe Tanguy, a deputy from the RN, characterized the meeting as "technical" rather than political. He stated that Le Pen and Bardella, who are currently campaigning and engaging directly with voters, do not need to attend as political figures.Lecornu seeks reconsideration of RN stance
Lecornu invited the RN leaders to "reconsider" their position following an inter-ministerial crisis cell. The meeting’s agenda included discussions on the "security of the presidential campaign," reflecting concerns about the impact of the violence on the election.Macron calls for unity after violence
Earlier, President Emmanuel Macron announced that Lecornu would convene all political parties in the coming days. The goal is to condemn the violence and address social demands in collaboration with unions, student organizations, local authorities, and parliamentarians.
