Several French banks have said they are open to offering campaign loans to candidates in next year’s presidential election if backed by government guarantees, a move that could help Marine Le Pen’s far‑right Rassemblement National overcome longstanding financing problems.

Officials from the prime minister’s office met banking executives in July to discuss how to overcome lenders’ traditional resistance to lending to candidates, over what they cast as financial and reputational risks. Banks have been particularly against funding the RN because of the lingering stigma from its xenophobic history, despite it now being the country’s most popular party. No agreement has been reached, but the government wants to avoid “foreign interference” if candidates turn abroad for loans.

Olivier Gavalda, chief executive of Crédit Agricole, said the state must provide guarantees and that a pooled approach would avoid partisan risk. BNP Paribas, 뭐, Société Générale, Natixis and BPCE declined to comment. zieken

In France, the state reimburses campaign expenses up to a limit for candidates who win more than 5 per cent of the vote, a rule that has made banks wary of not being paid back. The RN has not secured financing despite months of canvassing French and European banks.