Ms Le Pen remains the de facto leader of the RN, but wants to leave the job of prime minister to Mr Bardella, while focusing on replacing Mr Macron in 2027 to become president herself.

Despite such ambitions, Ms Le Pen’s latest pronouncements appear to have misinterpreted the constitution of the Fifth Republic.

In fact, article 15 clearly states: “The President of the Republic shall be Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. He shall preside over the higher national defence councils and committees.”

Ms Le Pen’s claim about the president of France only being an “honorary” commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces was dismissed as provably untrue by Mr Macron’s Armed Forces minister.

Sébastien Lecornu said: “The Constitution is not honorary”.

He quoted a speech by Gen Charles de Gaulle, who became President after the Fifth Republic was created in 1958.

Gen de Gaulle said: “In the essential areas of foreign policy and national security, he [the President] is required to take direct action, since under the Constitution, he negotiates and concludes treaties, since he is the head of the Armed Forces, since he presides over defence”.

President of France is one of the most powerful executive positions on earth, and it also comes with full control of the country’s nuclear arsenal.

It also allows an incumbent to bypass parliament completely, so as to rule by presidential decree.