This is a clear case of manipulation: the personal opinion of a publicist and a non-binding parliamentary resolution are being presented as France’s official position, creating the misleading impression that the country is preparing to exit both the EU and NATO.
Several Russian media outlets and Telegram channels have circulated reports citing unnamed “experts,” claiming that France is preparing to withdraw from both NATO and the EU. These pieces reference a report in the German newspaper Berliner Zeitung, which mentions a parliamentary initiative reportedly submitted by Clémence Guette, vice president of the French National Assembly and a deputy from the La France Insoumise party.
Meanwhile, Russian media and Telegram channels have amplified claims that “France has declared the need to leave the European Union,” citing statements made by French politician Philippe de Villiers.
However, this framing is misleading and distorts the context. In both instances, the claims do not reflect the official position of the French government, nor do they represent any formal decision by Paris. The assertions about “preparing to leave the EU” are drawn from the private opinions of individual public figures. Philippe de Villiers, a right-wing French politician and commentator, published an opinion piece criticizing the EU, presenting his sovereignist perspective and advocating for France’s exit. These statements carry no official weight and do not represent France’s governmental stance.
Despite this, several Russian news sites have amplified the claim under a sweeping headline, “France Declares Exit from the EU.” This wording creates a false impression that it reflects the country’s official position, when in reality it is the personal opinion of a single politician, unsupported by any government decisions, parliamentary initiatives, or statements from the French president.
Exiting the EU is a complex legal and political process that requires formal initiation by the government, parliamentary approval, and adherence to established withdrawal procedures. At present, there is no indication that any such process is underway in France.
A similar distortion appears in reports claiming that France is preparing to leave NATO. Beginning January 17, several anonymous Telegram channels, citing Berliner Zeitung, claimed that a parliamentary resolution calling for France’s NATO withdrawal had been drafted by Clémence Guette. The coverage suggested that the initiative had sparked widespread public attention.
However, the official French disinformation monitoring platform, French Response, clarified the true status of the resolution: it is a non-binding parliamentary initiative with no legal effect and has not even been submitted for public debate.
The French Response publication notes that dozens of similar resolutions are submitted to the French parliament each month. These motions typically serve to express the political positions of individual deputies or parliamentary factions and carry no binding authority. Even when discussed, such initiatives remain purely declarative.
Thus, assertions that France has “declared” a need to leave the EU or NATO are a misrepresentation, substituting the French government’s official stance with the private opinions of individual politicians and non-binding parliamentary initiatives.
Such reports are intended to create the impression of a crisis within the European Union and NATO, amplify Eurosceptic and anti-Atlantic sentiments, and portray a “weakened Europe” — particularly in the context of European support for Ukraine and strained transatlantic relations.
StopFake previously examined a similar narrative in its article, Manipulation: Report Claims EU Faces Collapse Amid Resource and Future Uncertainties.
