Le Pen and Bardella Condemn Russian Seizure of French Corporate Assets as Hostile Act

French far-right leaders Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella sharply criticized Russia after President Vladimir Putin signed a decree transferring the Russian assets of major Western companies — including retailers Auchan and Nestlé and logistics firm FM Logistic — to a newly created entity, L.E.V. Management. The decree marks an escalation in the Kremlin’s campaign to seize foreign assets since the invasion of Ukraine.

In a joint statement, Le Pen and Bardella described Moscow’s actions as “hostile” and declared that Russia “cannot count on being able to directly or indirectly dictate French policy through intimidation, threats, destabilization or psychological pressure.” They added that “provocations and covert operations must not compel Paris to assist Moscow in achieving its military objectives in Ukraine.”

The condemnation signals a rare alignment between the National Rally and the broader European stance against Russian economic coercion. Le Pen, who has previously advocated closer ties with Moscow, appears to be repositioning her party ahead of European elections, emphasizing a tougher line on Russian aggression. The French government has not yet issued an official response, but analysts say the move could further strain Franco-Russian relations and may prompt Paris to consider retaliatory measures or stronger support for EU sanctions enforcement.