Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally party, criticized football star Kylian Mbappé following he spoke out once morest the “catastrophic” results of the French legislative elections, where the far-right made gains.
Le Pen, in an interview with CNN on Thursday, rejected Mbappé’s statements, claiming that he “is not a representative (of migrants).”
The captain of the French national football team emphasized on Thursday the urgency of voting in the second round, following the “catastrophic” results of the first round. While he did not explicitly name the National Rally, he stated, “I think more than ever we need to go out and vote. We cannot leave our country in the hands of these people.”
He further elaborated during a pre-game speech in Hamburg on the eve of France’s Euro 2020 quarter-final once morest Portugal, “There is an emergency. We cannot leave our country in their hands. It is really urgent. We have seen the results, they are catastrophic.”
“The French are tired of receiving lectures and advice on how to vote,” Le Pen responded. She added, “Mbappé does not represent the French people of immigrant origin, because there are a large number of them who live on the minimum wage, and who cannot afford housing or heating, compared to people like Mr. Mbappé.”
France concluded a tense election campaign on Friday, two days before historic legislative elections. According to Agence France-Presse, these elections might either place the country under the control of the far-right or plunge it into unprecedented political turmoil.
The campaign officially ended at midnight (Friday at 22:00 GMT), leaving a country considered one of the pillars of the European Union deeply divided and fragmented following seven years of Emmanuel Macron’s presidency.
Outgoing Prime Minister Gabriel Attal addressed the possibility of political obstruction on Friday, emphasizing that his government might ensure the continuity of the state “for the necessary time” if a clear majority does not emerge from the ballot boxes.
“The danger today is a majority dominated by the far right, and this would be a disastrous project,” Attal warned on France 2 public channel on Friday evening.
Since the president’s surprise decision to dissolve the National Assembly following his camp’s failure in the European elections on June 9, developments have reshaped the French political landscape. The rise of the National Rally party, which hopes to come to power next week, has become increasingly evident.
On the international stage, leftist Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva stressed the importance of “ensuring democracy” in confronting the far right, which is aiming for victory in the French legislative elections on Sunday. He expressed support for Mbappé’s stance saying, “Did you hear Mbappé’s comments? He called on the French people not to let fascists, Nazis and the far right rule France, because he knows what problems there are when extremists come to power.”
Former Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, during a roundtable in France on Friday, warned that the far right “has the potential to lead to a broader destabilization of both Europe and the European integration process, and we are therefore facing an existential threat.”
Marine Le Pen Attacks Kylian Mbappé After Football Star Condemns Far-Right Gains in French Elections
French football star Kylian Mbappé has found himself at the center of a political storm following he criticized the gains made by the far-right National Rally party in the first round of the French legislative elections. The party’s leader, Marine Le Pen, responded by attacking Mbappé, dismissing his comments and questioning his representation of French people of immigrant origin.
Mbappé Calls for Urgent Action Against Far-Right
Mbappé, the captain of the French national football team, expressed his concern regarding the election results during an interview on the eve of France’s Euro 2020 quarter-final once morest Portugal. He urged his fellow citizens to vote in the second round, stating that “it was very urgent to vote” following the “catastrophic” results of the first round. While he didn’t explicitly name the National Rally, his message was clear: he saw a serious threat in the far-right’s rise.
“I think more than ever we need to go out and vote. We cannot leave our country in the hands of these people,” Mbappé said, highlighting the urgency of the situation. “There is an emergency. We cannot leave our country in their hands. It is really urgent. We have seen the results, they are catastrophic,” he added.
Le Pen Rejects Mbappé’s Criticism and Questions his Representation
Marine Le Pen, however, was quick to dismiss Mbappé’s statements, accusing him of lecturing the French people regarding how to vote. “The French are tired of receiving lectures and advice on how to vote,” Le Pen told CNN.
She further attacked Mbappé’s credibility, questioning his ability to represent French people of immigrant origin. “Mbappe does not represent the French people of immigrant origin, because there are a large number of them who live on the minimum wage, and who cannot afford housing or heating, compared to people like Mr. Mbappe,” Le Pen stated.
France Braces for Tense Legislative Elections
The elections come at a time of heightened political tension in France. The first round results revealed a fractured and deeply divided electorate, raising concerns regarding the potential for political obstruction and instability. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, speaking on Friday, warned of a possible scenario where the far right, led by Le Pen, might gain a dominant position in the legislature, leading to a “disastrous project” for France.
President Emmanuel Macron’s surprise decision to dissolve the National Assembly following his party’s disappointing performance in the European elections on June 9 set the stage for these elections. The developments since then have confirmed the growing influence of the National Rally, as they aim for a victory that would significantly shake up the French political landscape.
International Leaders Sound Alarm on Far-Right Threat
The international community has also expressed concern regarding the potential for a far-right victory in France. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a leftist leader, emphasized the need to protect democracy in the face of the far-right’s resurgence. He praised Mbappé’s call to action, stating: “Did you hear Mbappé’s comments? He called on the French people not to let fascists, Nazis and the far right rule France, because he knows what problems there are when extremists come to power.”
Former Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras echoed these concerns, arguing that the far-right’s rise might destabilize both Europe and the European integration process. “The far right has the potential to lead to a broader destabilization of both Europe and the European integration process, and we are therefore facing an existential threat,” Tsipras said during a roundtable in France.
The Stakes of the French Elections
The second round of the French legislative elections, taking place on Sunday, is expected to be crucial in determining the country’s future. The possibility of the National Rally gaining a significant presence in the legislature has sparked anxieties regarding the potential for social and economic policies that might significantly alter the fabric of French society. It remains to be seen how the second round will unfold and what the outcome will mean for the future of France and its role in the European Union.
