**Farage and Bardella’s ‘Small Boats’ Pact Draws Criticism in France**
A newly signed agreement between Britain’s Reform UK party and France’s National Rally (RN) has sparked significant backlash from various political figures in France. The memorandum, which aims to facilitate the return of asylum seekers arriving in the UK via small boats back to France, was finalized on Friday by Reform leader Nigel Farage and RN chief Jordan Bardella. The plan is contingent upon both parties securing power in their respective countries.
The agreement has raised eyebrows among French presidential candidates, with several expressing their disapproval on Saturday. Edouard Philippe, a former prime minister and the conservative candidate for the Horizons party in the 2027 presidential election, characterized the pact as a surprising “U-turn” for the National Rally. He remarked, “Seeing Jordan Bardella sign an agreement that provides for sending back to France migrants intercepted in the Channel, that one we didn’t see coming.” Philippe questioned whether Marine Le Pen, the RN’s presidential candidate, was aligned with Bardella's new stance.
Gabriel Attal, a former Prime Minister and current leader of the center-right Renaissance party, echoed Philippe's sentiments, criticizing the agreement as a sign of the National Rally's “submission” to foreign interests. Attal stated, “We are reaching levels of unpreparedness and submission that are almost never seen in the recent history of the National Rally. This shows their foreign policy is one of great submission to other powers.”
On the far-left, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, another presidential candidate, voiced his concerns on social media platform X, asserting that if the agreement were to be implemented, it would reduce France to a mere “gatekeeper” for the UK. He emphasized the importance of not supporting Le Pen in the upcoming election, framing it as a matter of national dignity.
Raphaël Glucksmann, a candidate from the centre-left Place Publique party, also criticized the National Rally, stating on BFM TV that the pact exemplifies the party's weakness in defending France’s interests. He pointed to the RN's voting record in the European Parliament as evidence of their lack of commitment to national sovereignty, declaring, “We are the true patriots.”
In response to the criticism, Bardella defended the agreement, expressing his support for the pact and its objectives. He stated, “So I welcome this agreement, and if tomorrow we are in power, and Nigel Farage is as well, we will do everything in our power to curb immigration both in France and in England.”
The controversy surrounding the pact underscores the contentious nature of immigration policy in Europe, particularly as both countries grapple with rising numbers of asylum seekers attempting perilous crossings of the English Channel. The agreement, if enacted, could significantly alter the approach to immigration and asylum in both nations, further intensifying the political discourse leading up to the French presidential elections in 2027.
As the political landscape evolves, the implications of this agreement will likely continue to be a focal point in the ongoing debate about national sovereignty, immigration, and the relationship between France and the UK.