France’s radical left-wing candidate party for president, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, has included in its official programme the country’s departure from NATO and the statehood of some of the key defence industry companies.
In the 222-page programme released on Friday, France Unbowed requires immediate withdrawal from NATO’s integrated command and, later, gradually, full departure from the Alliance.
The party also opposes the target of defence spending at 5% of GDP, which it describes as the request of the United States.
However, a France led by Mélenchon would continue to provide assistance to European Union countries in line with EU treaties.
Various polls have placed Mélenchon in a favourable position to move to the second round of next year’s presidential elections for Emmanuel Macron’s successor.
In such a scenario, he could face Marine Le Pen, who has also promised France’s departure from NATO’s integrated command.
Unlike Le Pen’s party, France Unbowed ‘%s’ does not directly say it will cut off aid to Ukraine, but insists on the need for a diplomatic solution to the war.
Under the programme, any peace agreement must be based on the collective security fund between the warring parties and the rest of Europe.
The party also requires stronger weapons regulation, including lethal autonomous systems and nuclear weapons.
The programme also envisions opposition to militarism of space, including the closure of NATO’s space centre in Toulouse. At the same time, the party argues that France should have sufficient capacities to guarantee its sovereignty, including the development of a space ship.
France Unbowed ‘% also requires more investments in strategic military capacities, such as communication, intelligence and logistics, areas in which Europe currently relies heavily on the US through NATO.
The program also includes the statehood of several leading defence companies, including ArianGroup.
A more detailed programme for the defence sector alone is expected to be published later. /Telegraphy/