"Don't panic yet, but it might be wise to start preparing a contingency plan"

As reported by Jutarnji list, Brussels' fear that one of the EU's founding countries could turn radically to the right flared up again this week, while the French political crisis is taking on increasingly serious proportions.

One of President Emmanuel Macron's longtime allies has joined a growing chorus of opponents who are openly calling for his resignation.

The French president has come under extraordinary pressure after his prime minister's latest attempt to form a functioning government failed in just 14 hours. New elections now look more and more certain - perhaps as soon as a few months, if not weeks.

At the presidential and parliamentary level, the National Rally Party of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella is becoming more and more likely to win, which would mean that the Eurosceptic, far-right politician could soon represent France in key EU institutions, joining the increasingly vocal chorus of populists and right-wing nationalists on the continent.

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"Our continent has survived a war, a lockdown, and even a kind of light dictatorship in Budapest - we are used to functioning in the midst of constant upheavals," said a high-ranking official of the European Commission who, like other interviewees of the Politico portal, requested anonymity.

But, as he adds, "Le Pen is different". There is widespread belief in Brussels that a radical change of government in France would have far-reaching consequences for the entire Union.

While the extreme right has been calling for new parliamentary elections for weeks, current events also raise the issue of temporary presidential elections - if Macron is forced to step down, which he has categorically refused until now, swearing that he will serve his mandate until 2027.

Brussels Headaches

The coming to power of the National Rally Party in France would significantly increase the headaches of Brussels.

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• Merz and Macron: We're in danger

Along with Orban in Hungary and Fico in Slovakia, Andrej Babiš will soon be at the table of the European Council after his recent victory in the Czech Republic.

The new wave of populism threatens to undermine the common policies of the Union in key areas, especially on the issue of Russia and defense.

Orban and Fico have already systematically blocked European sanctions against Moscow since the invasion of Ukraine began.

Babiš, on the other hand, announced that he would cancel the European initiative to supply Ukraine with ammunition, oppose NATO's plans to increase military spending, and that he would challenge the Green Transition - the same package that Le Pen also labeled as unacceptable.

The French politician has been opposing additional aid to Kyiv for years, accusing Macron of "warmongering", especially when he suggested the possibility of sending European soldiers to Ukraine.

Although France is not the largest financial donor of Ukrainian military aid, Macron's rhetoric and political leadership have been key to maintaining European support for Kyiv and strengthening European defense cooperation.

"If he leaves, it all goes down the drain - Le Pen would certainly not continue down that path," said a senior official of one EU member state.

The National Rally Party strongly opposes Macron's idea of ​​sharing the French nuclear umbrella with other EU members or pooling military resources.

Le Pen believes that France should leave NATO's integrated command, but while maintaining cooperation with allies, including the US, in key military operations.

If Marine Le Pen's party wins a majority in early elections, and currently leads in opinion polls, or at least gets close to it, her successor Bardella could take over as prime minister and form a far-right government.

This would mean that France, as a key member of the EU, would act in the EU Council from the position of the nationalist right, blocking a series of laws proposed by the Commission.

"Everyone in Brussels is currently thinking about the presidential elections, but they completely underestimate what a daily blockade in the Council would mean," warns the same Commission official.