far-right with a history of warm ties with russian president putin is staging her strongest bid yet for the french presidency. with polls ahead of sunday s final round election putting her within striking distance. should she succeed, european observers feel and illiberal russian friendly leader taking the helm of the eu s sole nuclear power. experts say le pen s conciliatory position towards moscow s complimenting isolate putin. le pen for example opposes plan to wean europe off russian oil and gas and could jeopardize the eu ban on russian coal. her stance could embolden the kremlin by tying the eu s hands on any further measures against russia, should putin deploy even more inhumane war tactics in ukraine. in brussels, the eaves capital, european diplomats see le pen s surge as a real replay of trump s victory and a brexit. but this time, in the heart of
known russia essentially has the right to menace ukraine. in to keep ukraine in its sphere of influence. again, the vote of presidential election in france is this weekend, the votes on sunday. the one and only debate between the candidates, between her and an emmanuel macron take place tomorrow. here s the washington post on of this afternoon. quote, already facing a resurgent menace from the kremlin, europe is bracing for the possible rise of threat from within. one who could bolster moscow, break the european union and diminish the nato alliance at the continent s most critical moment since the fall of the berlin wall. marine le pen a doyen of the far-right with a history of warm ties with russian president putin is staging her strongest bid yet for the french presidency. with polls ahead of sunday s final round election putting her within striking distance. should she succeed, european observers feel an illiberal russian friendly leader taking the helm of the eu s sole nuclear powe