France was preparing for a busy two weeks of election campaigning as President Emmanuel Macron called snap polls to combat the far right. Star footballer Kylian Mbappe added to the heated environment by cautioning against voting for extreme views.
The deadline for candidates to register for the 577 seats in the National Assembly passed at 6:00 pm (1600 GMT). Official campaigning commences from midnight for the June 30 first round, with the decisive second round on July 7.
The alliance led by Macron now has less than two weeks to close the gap to the far right after the party performed well in EU Parliament elections. The election outcome remains uncertain, with many questioning Macron’s decision to call for early elections.
Options include the far-right National Rally (RN) leading the government, a hung parliament, or coalition-building efforts post-election.
One of the last high-profile candidates to register was Marie-Caroline Le Pen, older sister of the RN’s leader Marine Le Pen, standing in the central Sarthe region.
– ‘Young and inexperienced’ –
Mbappe, competing for France in the Euro 2024 tournament in Germany, spoke against extremes and divisive ideas, encouraging young people to vote at a critical moment in French history.
The striker defended his teammate Marcus Thuram’s remarks and emphasized the need to prevent extremists from gaining power.
The French Football Federation advised against using the French team for political purposes.
– Left, right realign –
Macron’s decision to dissolve parliament after the far right’s success in the EU vote has reshaped French politics. New alliances on the left and right have faced challenges and controversies ahead of the elections.
– ‘Surprise not enough’ –
Macron is expected to return to the domestic campaign after international engagements. The stakes are high for him, as a poor election result could weaken his presidency.
Former prime minister Lionel Jospin warned of the risks for Macron, criticizing his rushed campaign and accusing him of giving the far right a chance to seize power in France.
