TheCable

France is about to have its own Donald Trump moment, with Marine Le Pen, France’s far-right leader, saying she hopes the French would make her president in 2017.

Le Pen, like Trump is against free trade, and believes in reducing immigration, and also stands for protectionism.

Speaking in an interview with BBC on Sunday, Le Pen said Trump’s victory just made her own election win more likely.

“He made possible what had previously been presented as impossible so it is really the victory of the people against the elite,” she said.

“So if I can draw a parallel with France, then yes I wish that in France also the people up-end the table, the table around which the elites are dividing up what should go to the French people.”

Le Pen also expressed support for a “Brexit”, adding that all members of the European Union be allowed to express their views on the EU through a referendum.

“The elites would be in for another surprise,” she said.

Like Trump, Le Pen said there were no reasons for Europe to be scared of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“We’d better, if we want a powerful Europe, negotiate with Russia, and have cooperation agreements with Russia, commercial agreements with Russia,” VOA quoted Le Pen to have said, adding that it was the EU that was destabilising Europe, not Russia.

“The model that is defended by Vladimir Putin which is one of reason, protectionism, looking after the interests of his own country, defending its identity, is one that I like.”

Le Pen said her party had borrowed from a Russian bank because French banks had refused to lend money to it.