Darmanin Warns: Le Pen or Mélenchon Presidency Would End Europe as We Know It

French Minister of Justice Gérald Darmanin has warned that the arrival of Jean-Luc Mélenchon or Marine Le Pen at the Élysée Palace in the upcoming 2027 presidential election would effectively dismantle the current framework of the European Union.

Speaking at a forum in Barcelona, Spain, on Monday, November 2, Darmanin, who supports the presidential bid of Édouard Philippe, stated that "it is indisputable that if Mr. Mélenchon or Ms. Le Pen were elected, there would no longer be a Europe as we know it today." He explained: "The European continent will remain, of course, and nations will continue to speak to one another, but there will be no European community," noting that "the projects of both candidates are very clear and are based on bringing an end to this Europe."

From a "Europe of Debate" to a "Europe of Power"

The French Keeper of the Seals urged that the victor of the presidential election, with its first round scheduled for April 18, must be "someone fiercely pro-European" to lead the path of reform, emphasizing that the genuine challenge for the next French president will be "to transform Europe into a Europe of power, rather than just a Europe of debate."

Darmanin, who has been a member of every successive French cabinet since 2017 with the exception of the short-lived Barnier government, lamented the decline of Europe's global standing, while pointing out that "France is also witnessing a decline within the European space."

A Call to Move Past "Debates of the Past"

In his assessment of the domestic political climate, the Justice Minister criticized the nature of prevailing debates in Paris, arguing that discussions in France "are often debates of old people, centered on pensions, health insurance, and end-of-life care, at a time when the world is discussing quantum physics, artificial intelligence, climate, and green industries."

Darmanin concluded his address by stressing the necessity of breaking away from these traditional topics, declaring: "We must stop holding the debates of the past, and look instead toward the debates that shape the future."