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WORLD NEWS Thursday 5 January 2017

France’s Le Pen lauds Ford decision as win for protectionism

ELAINE GANLEY against immigration, the cause it’s a power strug-
Associated Press EU and a system of politi- gle between politics and
PARIS (AP) — French far- cians, banks and other de- economy.”
right presidential can- ciders she claims is bringing Montebourg advocates
didate Marine Le Pen France down — and which state intervention to pro-
cheered Ford Motor Co.’s she vows to break. tect national interests and
decision to shift investment “Political will pays,” she keep jobs and companies
from Mexico to the U.S., said. “The proof is what in the country. As economy
saying on Wednesday that Donald Trump obtained.” minister from 2012 to 2014,
it is victory for the protec- Ford is canceling plans to he was responsible for a
tionist policies she champi- build a $1.6 billion factory decree broadening the
ons. in Mexico and will instead government’s right to inter-
In a New Year’s address invest some of that money vene when foreign com-
to journalists, Le Pen said in a U.S. factory. panies want to buy firms
Ford’s decision is proof Le Pen wasn’t the only the state considers vital,
that “protectionism works, French presidential can- for instance in the energy,
when it is led by determina- didate to lavish kudos on transport, health and com-
tion, and when a country Trump for Ford’s decision. munications sectors. Far-right leader and candidate for next spring presidential elec-
can exercise its economic Arnaud Montebourg, a Montebourg is among sev- tions Marine le Pen, gestures as she delivers her New Year’s ad-
dress to the media in Paris, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017.
independence.” former economics minister en running for the Socialist Associated Press
The National Front party seeking the Socialist Party candidacy in a two-round
leader, a top candidate candidacy, also proposes primary this month. Social- nized,” and she is already numbers,” she laughed.
in France’s presidential protectionist measures to ist President Francois Hol- preparing her first five years The National Front’s No. 2,
election next spring, has help French industry. lande, bowing to his per- in office. “I know where I’m Florian Philippot, said that
already suggested that “I see that Donald Trump sonal unpopularity, isn’t going and how I’m going no one company comes to
President-elect Donald used the Montebourg seeking a second term, to get there.” mind but the French auto
Trump’s victory could have method!,” he joked at a and is leaving his party in Speaking privately, she re- industry, in particular, out-
a favorable impact on her Wednesday news con- disarray. fused to name any French sources to third countries
own campaign, along with ference. “A strong and In contrast, the far-right companies that might be and the “same arguments,
Britain’s Brexit vote to leave protecting state is a state candidate, now in her squeezed to bend to what the same will, the same
the European Union. which pays attention to second presidential race, she calls “economic patrio- tools” used by Trump would
Le Pen dubs herself a “pa- the country’s industrial and said she and her team tism.” be employed in a France
triot” and campaigns economic interests ... be- are “ready, resolute, orga- “It’s nearly an excess of run by the National Front.
Departing UK envoy to EU attacks Theresa May’s Brexit plan

GREGORY KATZ EU Commission spokes- the UK’s relationship with
Associated Press woman Natasha Bertaud the EU after exit,” he wrote.
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s said Rogers would be That implies he is unsure
outgoing ambassador to missed. whether May seeks to keep
the European Union has “We regret the loss of a Britain in the single market
strongly criticized the gov- very professional, very or the customs union, or
ernment’s approach to knowledgeable, while not to have the country sever
Brexit negotiations in a blis- always easy interlocutor those economic relation-
tering farewell email to his and diplomat who always ships.
staff. loyally defended the in- Rogers also said that Britain,
Ivan Rogers said Prime Min- terests of his government,” unlike its EU adversaries,
ister Theresa May’s govern- she said. does not have the “serious
ment has been hindered In probably the most damn- multilateral negotiating ex-
by “ill-founded arguments” ing passage of his farewell perience” needed for the
and “muddled thinking” In this file photo dated Friday, Feb. 19, 2016, British Prime Minis- email, Rogers said that task.
in its approach to the up- ter David Cameron, left, and Britain’s permanent representative senior civil servants don’t The email was sent Tues-
coming talks to pull Britain to European Union Ivan Rogers, right, leave after an EU summit know what the May gov- day, when Rogers resigned
out of the EU. in Brussels. ernment’s priorities are in months earlier than ex-
His harsh critiques, likely to Associated Press the talks, which will set the pected.
embarrass the government British media Wednesday. interest as it leaves the EU. course for Britain’s relations May took over after Prime
in the run-up to complex Rogers’ abrupt departure May on Wednesday eve- with Europe once it leaves Minister David Cameron
negotiations with the other reveals the deep uncer- ning appointed Tim Barrow, the bloc. resigned following his fail-
27 members of the EU bloc, tainties within the govern- a former U.K. ambassador “We do not yet know what ure to convince Britons to
were made public when ment about how to best to Russia, as Rogers’ re- the Government will set as remain in the EU in the June
the email was published by protect Britain’s national placement. negotiating objectives for referendum.