As France heads to the polls in run-off elections that could bring Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally to power in parliament, Foreign Minister Israel Katz issues his best wishes to the country on X, and adds the cryptic line: “The State of Israel is not involved in the French elections and respects French democracy – as we always expect other countries to respect Israeli democracy.”
Last week, Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli seemed to endorse Le Pen as future leader of France. “It is excellent for Israel that she will be the president of France, with 10 exclamation marks,” he said in an interview.
Asked whether his party leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, agrees, Chikli said: “I think I and Netanyahu are of the same opinion.”
Le Pen’s next opportunity to run for president is in 2027.
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