Currently, the French presidential campaign is in its early stage. The election is scheduled for April. One of the most notable candidates is leader of the right-wing party National Front Marine Le Pen, who said Monday that if elected she will recognize Crimea as part of Russia.
"Given the historical realities, as well as the choice which was clearly expressed during the referendum on accession, I will recognize Crimea as part of Russian territory if elected," the politician said in an interview with RT France.
Le Pen believes that relations between Russia and France are important in a multipolar world and crucial to settle the global crises. This idea is also broadly shared by presidential candidates from the Republican Party. For example, former president Nicolas Sarkozy has repeatedly called for the removal of anti-Russian sanctions and the normalization of relations with Moscow.
However, Sarkozy has six Republican rivals, and the most notable is former Prime Minister Alain Juppe. If Sarkozy loses the primaries of the Republican Party, two politicians with opposite views will take part in the election – Le Pen with her Euroscepticism and pro-Russian stance and Juppe, an avid supporter of NATO.
"Much will depend on the results of the US election in November. Trump is likely to win as a result of new trends growing in the West, including resistance to globalism and falling confidence in the political elites," it added.