Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) would likely introduce policies that would bring it into conflict with Brussels and undermine its commitment to the European Union, if it wins power.
On Sunday, French voters went to the polls to choose a new government, after Emmanuel Macron called snap elections in June.
After the first round of voting, the RN won 33 percent of the votes, putting it on track to become the largest party in the new parliament and in poll position to form the next government.
Although Le Pen’s party has ruled out “Frexit”, many of its economic and social policies contain proposals contrary to EU law.
Jordan Bardella, the RN’s leader, has suggested he would try to get a rebate to the tune of €2 billion (£1.7bn) on France’s contribution to the EU budget.
Eric Maurice, an analyst at the European Policy Centre, told Euronews that this “would challenge France’s commitment to the EU”.
Bardella also seems likely to provoke confrontation with Brussels over immigration rules.
The RN leader wants to curb freedom of movement within the Schengen area and reserve the right for EU citizens only.
The far-right politician also wants to introduce stricter immigration controls, potentially backed by a referendum to prioritise French law over European law.
Mr Maurice said this would “be in flagrant contradiction with European law,” and would almost certainly lead to fights with Brussels.
Furthermore, the RN intends to cut VAT on energy unilaterally, a move that EU rules stipulate requires unanimous approval by all members of the bloc.
President Macron has been grappling with a growing budget deficit which currently stands at 5.5 percent of economic output.
EU rules stipulate that member countries must keep budget deficits below three percent of GDP.
Brussels has supported President Macron’s controversial pension reforms, viewing them as essential in reducing France’s spending deficits.
However, the RN wants to reverse the reforms, putting it on another collision course with EU mandarins.
Mr Maurice said the policies were a subtle way for the eurosceptic party to undermine the EU.
“It’s more perverse than that, in a way,” he said. “It’s not an exit from the European Union, but it’s a questioning of certain European policies, in any case of France’s participation in European policies or France’s commitments.”
