Le Pen and Russia? It’s a Macron smear, says party

National Rally claims government is behind a foreign report on Kremlin tactics in France
Charles Bremner
, Paris
The Times
Marine Le Pen’s party suggested that President Macron and his administration were behind a Washington Post investigation
Marine Le Pen’s party suggested that President Macron and his administration were behind a Washington Post investigation
ERIC FEFERBERGERIC FEFERBERG/AFP/GETTY
Charles Bremner
, Paris
The Times

France’s right-wing National Rally has accused the Macron government of mounting a conspiracy to tar it as a Russian puppet, after an American report that Moscow is using the party to subvert Europe.

The party of Marine Le Pen, runner-up in the past two presidential elections, suggested that Macron and his administration were behind a Washington Post investigation that cited Kremlin documents showing that her party was a Russian bridgehead to disrupt the EU.

Macron’s Renaissance party said the report, by Catherine Belton, a British expert on Russia, was proof that “the National Rally is well and truly the Kremlin’s spokesman in France, playing a leading role in relaying President Putin’s propaganda”.

Le Pen with Putin at the Kremlin in 2017. A recent report has suggested close links between her party and the Russian leader
Le Pen with Putin at the Kremlin in 2017. A recent report has suggested close links between her party and the Russian leader
MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV/SPUTNIK/AFP

Le Pen’s party responded by saying Macron was merely running scared as she