French far-right leader Le Pen questions president’s role as army chief ahead of parliament election

NICE, France — With just three days to go until France’s landmark legislative elections, the country’s far-right leader on Thursday raised the uncomfortable question of who would be in charge of the military if her party takes over the government after the two-round balloting — prompting an angry reaction from President Emmanuel Macron. Serving as a commander-in-chief of the armed forces “is an honorary title for the president since it’s the prime minister who actually pulls the strings,” Le Pen said in an interview with Le Télégramme newspaper published Thursday. The French Constitution states that “the President of the Republic is the head of the armed forces” and also “chairs the councils and higher committees of national defense.” However, the Constitution also states that “the prime minister is responsible for national defense.” Constitutional experts say the exact role of prime minister in foreign policy and defense appears to be subject to interpretation. On the issue of the country’s military command, political historian Jean Garrigues said that “the president is the head of the armed forces, it’s the prime minister who has the armed forces at his disposal.” In practice, he said this means that “if the president decided to send troops on the ground to Ukraine. She added: “On Ukraine, the president will not be able to send troops.” Le Pen’s argument that France’s highest office is essentially ceremonial puzzled some French observers, given her own presidential ambitions.