French far-right leader Jordan Bardella senses an opening for a right-wing coalition to tear down the European Green Deal.
Bardella, chair of the European Parliament’s far-right Patriots for Europe grouping and president of Marine Le Pen’s National Rally, said Monday morning that he would ask Manfred Weber, leader of the center-right European People’s Party, to “join forces” and halt the European Union’s efforts to curb climate change.
Bardella’s move, made during his New Year’s address to the French press, comes after EPP leaders attacked the bloc’s green legislation last week.
Describing the Green Deal, a package of measures aiming to make the EU climate-neutral by 2050, as a constraint on economic growth, he also cited the return of President Donald Trump as a reason for putting environmental legislation on hold.