Le Pen isolated in Brussels over threat to cut France's EU payments

Marine Le Pen faced isolation in Brussels on Wednesday after threatening a "showdown" with Europe over France's EU financial contribution, with her far-right allies declining to support her radical break with EU rules. The French presidential candidate confirmed she would cap France's net EU contribution at €5 billion, a €4.5 billion reduction from current payments, though less than the €11 billion in cuts her party proposed on October 6. Le Pen had announced her Brussels trip in the Financial Times, but held only a discreet meeting with traditional far-right allies and used more diplomatic language than usual to defend her agenda.