Conservative French presidential candidate Francois Fillon is campaigning for a tougher, more united Europe that can defend itself against violent extremists and unfair trade — and warns that a "Frexit" would lead to chaos and the death of the EU. Most of the 11 French presidential candidates are skeptical about the 28-nation European Union, amid growing nationalist sentiment around Europe and Britain's pending exit from the bloc, called Brexit. Some, like far-right French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen, even support "Frexit" — a French departure from the EU. But Fillon argued Thursday that the EU was "indispensable to ensure the French, and all Europeans, security and economic prosperity." Pledging to boost French defense spending, he said European countries should stop assuming that NATO or the U.S. will defend Europe.

Source: ABC News April 06, 2017 08:42 UTC