By CYNTHIA KROET
The Kremlin scores political wins from France to Bulgaria to Trump.
Vladimir Putin, it used to be said not long ago, had no friends. His
invasion of Crimea and meddling in eastern Ukraine made him persona non grata
in mainstream Europe and America. Asia saw little value in Russia’s no-growth
economy.
These days the Russian leader is on a roll. Without having to backtrack on
anything of substance (or territory) in Ukraine, there’s renewed talk of
lifting the sanctions imposed in 2014. Putin was always a celebrity, and a
source of support, for Europe’s far-right parties, which are themselves on a
roll. And now unabashed fans of his in conventional political parties are
taking office or rising in the polls.
Soon enough, the West may have its own Putin caucus. Here’s how it’s taking
shape:
France
François Fillon’s stunning first-place finish in Sunday’s conservative
primary gives this friendliest of French FOPs (Friends of Putin) the inside
track to move into the Elysée Palace in June. The former prime minister has
called Russia a “crucial partner” for Europe. He wants sanctions over Ukraine
lifted and blamed Western powers for having “provoked” Russia by expanding NATO
too close to its borders. Fillon also wants Western countries to join a
coalition with Russia to combat Islamic State in Syria.
Putin is potentially looking at a win-win in France. Marine Le Pen, the
leader of the National Front, who polls say will most probably get through to
the second round (and likely against the conservative nominee), is an even more
loyal FOP than Fillon. Her National Front party accepted a €9 million loan from
a Russian-backed bank in 2014 and she has repeatedly called for lifting
sanctions against Russia.
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