Jordan Bardella’s Rassemblement National (RN) party recently unveiled its energy vision for France, centered on a massive expansion of nuclear power and firm opposition to renewable energies. This strategy, which also includes a gas component to meet immediate energy needs, is the subject of intense debate among experts and politicians alike. The RN promises to re-establish “a French electricity price” and secure energy supplies, but these proposals raise crucial questions about economic feasibility and environmental impact.
Indexation of electricity prices
One of the party’s main promises is to re-establish “a French electricity price” by negotiating a 30% cut with Brussels. However, this promise seems difficult to achieve, as the price of electricity is made up of one-third taxes, one-third network costs and one-third the cost of the electricity itself. In reality, these components do not depend on the market. This strategy is strongly criticized by experts because of the high risk of power shortages and worsening global warming. It also criticizes the indexation of electricity prices, arguing that this mechanism particularly penalizes low-income households and small businesses, which are hit by rate hikes without having the same adjustment levers as large industrial companies. The party advocates a policy of energy sovereignty aimed at reducing dependence on imported energy raw materials. It proposes a review of electricity pricing mechanisms to better protect consumers, which could include stricter controls on rate increases and the introduction of social tariffs for the most vulnerable households. However, the RN’s proposals, while attractive on paper, raise questions of economic feasibility. The implementation of regulated tariffs could also imply increased state intervention, with complex budgetary and regulatory implications. Too much intervention could discourage the private investment needed to modernize energy infrastructures. Moreover, price stability, while advantageous for consumers, must be balanced with the need to guarantee sufficient profitability for electricity producers. The party’s position on electricity indexation reflects a desire to protect consumers and promote greater energy independence. However, implementing these proposals will require a balanced approach to reconciling consumer protection, price stability and the attractiveness of the energy market to investors.
Head-on opposition to renewable energies
For the RN, wind and solar power are not a miracle solution. The party criticizes their intermittency and low efficiency without adequate storage systems. In his view, these energies depend too much on foreign technologies, particularly Chinese solar panels, which jeopardizes France’s energy sovereignty. The defense of national and European industry is at the heart of his argument, denouncing unfair competition and technological dependence that weaken the country’s energy autonomy. He also criticizes the fact that energy is too intermittent, and can have a number of weaknesses in the event of repeated periods of drought and rising temperatures. According to the party, even wind farm projects that have already been approved, but on which work has not yet begun, will be halted. For the parks that have already been built, the party now envisages a tailor-made dismantling plan when they reach the end of their life. Jordan Bardella said he wanted to “rebuild the photovoltaic industry on French soil”. He assures us that there is no urgent need for solar power in France, and that the country will have time to open plants, contradicting the scenarios put forward by RTE, the electricity grid operator, on the strong needs to come. What’s more, wind and solar power now account for almost a quarter of France’s energy mix.
Nuclear power at the heart of RN’s vision
The RN sees nuclear power as the key to France’s energy independence. The party proposes a significant increase in the number of nuclear reactors, arguing that this is the most viable energy source to meet growing needs while reducing CO2 emissions. The party predicts that by 2050, 80% of France’s electricity will be generated by nuclear power, with 11% coming from small modular reactors (SMRs). It proposes to restart ten new reactors from 2031 and a further ten from 2036. The industry considers these targets to be unrealistic, as they exceed the capacities estimated by EDF. Deploying new power plants will take time, as can be seen from the Flamanville EPR, which was commissioned 12 years late. RN recognizes that these infrastructures will not be operational before 2035, which implies a transition period in which fossil fuels, particularly gas, will play a crucial role, thus running counter to global climate objectives. These objectives exceed what the sector, which has long lain fallow, believes it is capable of achieving. “False”, asserts Mr. Tanguy, who suggests that the state is lying about its ability to do more, and that it would have partnerships with other major nations like South Korea and Kepco to develop it. Nevertheless, the program is based mainly on the use of Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and High Temperature Reactors (HTGR). Although innovative, SMRs are often criticized for their low power output compared with traditional nuclear reactors. SMRs generally generate between 50 and 300 megawatts of electricity (MWe), whereas conventional reactors can produce more than 1000 MWe. What’s more, SMRs are still in the development phase and have not been widely deployed on a commercial scale, raising questions about their economic viability and ability to reliably meet growing energy needs. The RN’s emphasis on these reactors, to the detriment of renewable energies such as wind and solar power, is also criticized. Experts believe that renewable energies are essential for a balanced and sustainable energy transition. Abandoning these energy sources could slow decarbonization and increase dependence on fossil fuels during the transition period needed to set up new nuclear infrastructures.
Hydropower as a strategic alternative
Hydropower also plays an important role in RN’s energy strategy. The party proposes to transfer the management of dams to EDF to improve efficiency and national energy production. This measure is designed to circumvent legal obstacles and maximize the use of the country’s water resources. He believes that hydropower can offer a stable alternative to intermittent energies such as wind and solar power.
Rassemblement National’s Gas Strategy: Analysis and Criticism
The party has recently included a gas component in its energy program, aimed at meeting France’s immediate energy needs while waiting for new nuclear infrastructure to be put in place. This strategy raises both hopes and criticisms. To make up for the inevitable delay in deploying new nuclear capacity, the party is proposing the temporary use of gas-fired power stations. This transitional solution is intended to guarantee the country’s energy stability over the several decades required to build and commission new nuclear infrastructures. Gas-fired power plants would fill the gap in energy production during this period.
Reviews and Problems
The increased use of gas-fired power stations is strongly criticized for its impact on CO2 emissions, which contradicts greenhouse gas reduction targets. Although gas is less polluting than coal, it remains a fossil fuel with a significant carbon footprint, which poses a problem for France’s climate ambitions. In addition, the use of gas-fired power plants increases France’s energy dependence on gas imports, particularly from Russia and other exporting countries, notably in the Middle East. This dependence creates geopolitical and economic risks, especially in times of international tension or fluctuating gas prices. RN also plans to support gas pipeline infrastructure to secure gas supplies. However, this strategy could conflict with European objectives to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and promote renewable energies.
Rethinking the Carbon Tax and the European Marketplace
Jordan Bardella’s party is also proposing a revision of the border carbon tax to include all imported products that can be produced in Europe. This measure aims to protect European industry by making imported products more expensive, thus encouraging local production and reducing global CO2 emissions. In reality, it is very difficult to implement such applications due to the extremely dispersed production of manufactured products and the extremely complex tracking to manage efficiently.
RN’s transition to electric vehicles
The RN is opposed to the ban on internal combustion vehicles planned for 2035. He argues that this measure would be costly for the middle classes and harmful to the French car industry. The party proposes a more gradual transition to electric vehicles, arguing that a rapid ban could lead to significant job losses and endanger the domestic industry. This point of view is strongly criticized by Renault, one of France’s biggest groups, which is implementing a complete transition to all-electric models by 2035, thanks to investments that are currently very substantial. The RN wants to allow people to buy new gasoline-powered cars, contrary to the European decision to ban them in 2035. “We’re not calling into question the transition to clean vehicles, but we’re removing this constraint, which was seen as an unnecessary humiliation,” says Mr. Tanguy. In addition, it proposes to reduce VAT on fossil fuels to 5.5%, which would cost the public purse 168 billion euros. Such a proposal runs counter to renewable energies and public transport, encouraging the daily use of fuels. The party’s ambition is to obtain a “temporary derogation” from the European Commission to lower VAT on fuels as early as this summer, said MP Jean-Philippe Tanguy. The European Union prohibits lowering VAT on fuels to the minimum rate in order to comply with the Green Pact and the decarbonization objective. Nonetheless, Jean-Philippe Tanguy admitted that negotiations on fuel would be tough, citing the need to establish a “balance of power” to obtain a definitive derogation as early as 2027.
RN’s Hydrogen Program: Ambitions and Realities
RN intends to develop green hydrogen produced by water electrolysis to reduce CO2 emissions. The main thrusts of this program include massive investment in research and development (R&D), the creation of distribution infrastructures, public-private partnerships and specialized training programs. However, the production of green hydrogen remains costly. The technologies required for storage and transport imply major investments, without a clear financial framework. It must specify how it intends to finance these initiatives and attract the necessary private investors.
Technical Challenges
Hydrogen transport and storage pose major technical challenges. Current infrastructures are inadequate, and the costs associated with their development are high. RN is banking on technological advances, but these solutions will not be available in the short term, raising doubts about our ability to achieve the targets set. The focus on hydrogen could divert investment away from other renewable energies such as solar and wind power, which are already more advanced and less costly. What’s more, hydrogen production requires large quantities of electricity, which must be renewable if the environmental impact is to be truly beneficial. RN’s hydrogen program is ambitious, and demonstrates our determination to position France as a leader in energy innovation. However, the success of this initiative depends on resolving significant financial, technical and strategic challenges. To turn this ambition into reality, the party must adopt a pragmatic approach and ensure consistency with other renewable energy sources.
Budget cuts and public deficit
A trajectory will be presented at a later date, with a goal similar to the current government’s of bringing the deficit below 3% of GDP by 2027. “There’s no miracle”: savings will be needed as early as 2025, he warns, putting forward the figure of 20 billion euros. “The decisions will be very heavy. The savings will come from immigration restrictions, the elimination of tax loopholes such as the one for shipowners, or a smaller contribution to the European budget, says Mr. Tanguy, without putting a figure on it, also mentioning an increase in levies on the profits of energy companies. Thus, the Rassemblement National’s energy strategy, while ambitious, presents significant challenges. By relying on nuclear power as a pillar of France’s energy independence, the party seeks to guarantee stable, low-CO2 production. However, opposition to renewable energies and the complexity of nuclear projects raise questions about feasibility and environmental impact. The promise of lower electricity prices and greater energy independence remains unproven, with significant economic and technical hurdles to overcome. To succeed, RN will need to balance immediate energy needs with long-term goals of sustainability and CO2 emissions reduction, while navigating the complexities of the European energy market and global climate imperatives.
