French journalist Natacha Polony joins growing field of 2027 presidential hopefuls. Photo: Regis Duvignau/Pool via AP; AP Photo/Vianney Le Caer

'The situation leaves me no choice'

Former editor-in-chief of Marianne magazine, Polony, denounced what she describes as France's "complete loss of standing".

She advocates economic, energy and food sovereignty and calls for a reindustrialisation policy to "revive economic activity" and "bring money into the state's coffers."

In a video posted on her social media accounts shortly after her radio appearance, the newly announced candidate outlined her vision of a more sovereign France.

"A nation that no longer produces what it needs is no longer truly free to fund our schools and hospitals, preserve our social model, create skilled jobs and prepare for artificial intelligence," Polony said.

"We must produce...We must produce at home, on our own terms," she insisted.

A decision months in the making

At the end of August she launched her movement "Nous sommes la France" aimed at "all those orphaned by politics", saying she wanted to bring together "those who no longer feel represented by the current political options."

Speaking on France Inter, Natacha Polony claimed that her movement had 60,000 members who wanted to "fight against France's decline".

Often described as a "sovereigntist", she rejects the label, calling it the system's "favourite anathema".

In late September, during a heated televised debate with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, Polony accused him of seeing France as a "small country".

In her view, under Emmanuel Macron, Paris "fantasises" about European unity and seeks "at all costs" to be "Europe's star pupil", even if that means sacrificing the country's "vital" interests.

She points in particular to the cancellation of the Franco-German fighter jet project, as well as decisions she considers detrimental to French interests regarding European preference in the defence sector, while Germany continues to favour purchasing American weapons systems.