Now, while this election has no impact on who has the position of president in France, the legislative house falling into the hands of Le Pen, or even her having significant power within it will be a severe headache for the current president, President Macron. Losing control of France’s legislative house would be a difficulty for any sitting president, however Le Pen has indicated that for Macron it will be more of a catastrophe. It has previously been generally accepted by all sides of France’s political landscape that the legislator does not block the president from acting on foreign policy affairs. Le Pen has challenged this and indicated that France’s president is only “ceremonial” and has threatened to force Macron into being less confrontational when it comes to the war in Ukraine, with senior members of her party saying that they should be cautious of triggering a broader war by supplying French ammunition to Ukraine. They have also declared that they would block any attempt of Macron to send French troops to Ukraine, something he has said NATO needed to remain open-minded to. 

Macron having his hands potentially tied on Ukraine brings a deep feeling of dread in Ukraine and also NATO. France is the EU’s only nuclear power, and is the only EU state with a military larger than Russia’s. Should French aid to Ukraine be held up, particularly in the context of waning US support, the situation for Ukraine would be dier. A complete collapse of the Ukrainian Armed Forces would be an almost inevitable outcome. 

As Bible believers we are not pleased to see suffering or injustice anywhere on earth. We take no part in the wars of the kingdoms of men, knowing that God is in control of all these things. We look to see a world which is ruled in righteousness and peace, with justice brought throughout the world. However, we know from prophecy that before these things come to pass, the power of Russia, referred to as Rosh, Meshech and Tubal in Ezekiel 38, will have significant control over the whole continent of Europe. It was once described by a Christadelphian as being a situation of “Russia Triumphant, and Europe Chained”. 

And so when we see the resistance to Russia weaken in Europe, we see that the time we look for, when “he [Jesus] shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”

And so while we mourn for the wickedness that man brings upon himself in this world, we should rejoice that our redemption draws nigh.