On a visit to the Paris agricultural show, which ended last week, European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan called on French farmers to vote against far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in next month’s presidential election. Hogan used the example of the UK after Brexit, where he said there was no plan for direct payments or any safety net for farmers, asking: “Is this what Ms Le Pen wants?” French media were quick to notice that his comments ended a long tradition of neutrality among European Commissioners in member states’ national elections. Whether this will play for or against Le Pen in the polls remains to be seen.