In the second and decisive round of the French presidential election, most French farmers will vote for President Macron on Sunday, and not for his far-right challenger Marine Le Pen.
Le Pen cannot count on the support of the French agricultural associations with her anti-European course, as it became clear last week from recent opinion polls and ballot box advice.
The president of the French Farmers' Union (FNSEA), Christiane Lambert, recalled in an internal circular that the association is apolitical by statute and only recommends participating in the elections. At the same time, Lambert argued for a "stronger Europe" and warned of a divided EU "based on exaggerated national visions".
The president of FNSEA called on French farmers to vote. “This election is of the utmost importance for our country,” she emphasized. Domestic agriculture must fit into a united and strong Europe that does not return to the primacy of self-interest and national politics.”
Le Pen cannot hope for support from other French trade associations either. While the smaller farmers' association Coördinatie Rurale (CR) did not comment on the entire election campaign, the Confédération Paysanne (Conf') called on its members not to vote for Le Pen. The Association of Family Agricultural Farmers (MODEF) also called for the blocking of Macron's competitor.
Numerous non-governmental organizations, including Greenpeace, also took a stand against Le Pen. While Macron has broken numerous previous campaign promises on environmental and social issues, Le Pen's "xenophobic, backward and isolationist" policies should not be overlooked, according to Greenpeace.
Not only modern liberals or progressives but also many French agrarians are not really satisfied with the policies of President Macron in his last five-year term. Many left-wing voters say they will not vote at all. Despite this, many vacillators still tend to vote for Macron, to avoid the "even greater threat" of a far-right Marine Le Pen presidency.
It was previously announced that her National Front has received financial support from Moscow in recent years and that Marine Le Pen was warmly received by President Putin.