The political landscape in France is experiencing significant turbulence as the country grapples with the aftermath of the European Parliament elections and the upcoming legislative elections. French President Emmanuel Macron's recent decision to dissolve Parliament has added fuel to an already volatile situation. This move, which followed the National Rally party's success in the European elections, has heightened tensions and raised concerns about the potential rise of the far-right in French politics.
The National Rally party, led by Marine Le Pen, has been working to shed its extremist past and rebrand itself as a mainstream political force. The party has placed a strong emphasis on immigration and economic issues, while also expressing clear support for Israel in the wake of recent conflicts in Gaza. This support has been seen as a strategic move to align with the Jewish lobby in France and abroad, despite internal disagreements within the party's base.
On the other side of the political spectrum, the leftist movements in France have formed an alliance to counter the far-right's momentum. However, the left is also divided on key issues such as the Palestinian conflict. The Socialist Party and the Proud France Party, while agreeing on the need to support Palestinian rights and criticize Israeli actions, differ in their approach and rhetoric. This division has made it challenging for the left to present a united front.
Amidst this political turmoil, Kylian Mbappé, the French football star who recently transferred to Real Madrid, has also been drawn into the political discourse. During a press conference before France's match against Austria in the European Nations Cup, Mbappé was asked about the political situation in France rather than his football career. Known for his close relationship with President Macron, Mbappé called on the French people to avoid voting for extremist movements, a statement that was interpreted in various ways by political analysts.
The situation in France is further complicated by concerns about potential unrest following the elections. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has warned of the possibility of chaos instigated by both the ultra-left and ultra-right factions. The government has already taken steps to mitigate these risks, including banning several right-wing extremist groups with ties to the National Rally.
As the legislative elections approach, the future of French politics remains uncertain. The outcome will not only shape the domestic landscape but also influence France's stance on international issues such as the Palestinian conflict. The coming days will be crucial in determining the direction of the country and its impact on the broader European political scene.
- The conservative interior minister is worried about what Le Pen's economic policy could trigger. Most recently, he banned right-wing extremist groups with links to the Rassemblement National.
- Berlin – France's Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has warned of unrest after the upcoming parliamentary elections. "On the evening of the first round of voting and undoubtedly also on the evening of the second round when the final results are announced, the ultra-left and ultra-right could use the opportunity to create some kind of chaos," Darmanin told France Info on Friday. France's President Emmanuel Macron recently warned of a "civil war."
- The minister comes from the Catholic right and has only been a member of Emmanuel Macron's party since 2017. Darmanin is controversial in France. In 2017, a woman accused him of sexual assault, which he has always denied.
- In a circular to police prefects, seen by France Info, Darmanin spoke of a "context marked by several security risks" and fears "targeted destabilization actions." Even more than immediately after the election, which will be organized in two rounds on this Sunday and July 7, Darmanin fears "extremely serious unrest" after the political summer break in September - if the extreme right or extreme left come to power in the parliamentary elections.
- Social unrest is threatened after the summer holidays if one of the two camps begins to implement its economic plans and France comes under pressure on the financial markets, said Darmanin. Traditionally, the unions in France organize rallies in the autumn with social demands or criticism of government plans. The French police took tough action against such demonstrations, such as those against the pension reform implemented by Macron by decree or the yellow vest movement, also on Darmani's orders.
- Meanwhile, the mayor of France's third-largest city, Lyon, Grégory Doucet, fears unrest on the first night of the election, as the newspaper Le Figaro reported. After tensions had already arisen between the extreme left and the extreme right in the city over the past two weeks against the backdrop of the parliamentary elections scheduled at short notice, the mayor asked the interior minister for additional police forces for the election night.
- On Wednesday (26 June), Interior Minister Darmanin banned several right-wing extremist groups. Among them was the neo-fascist student association GUD, which Darmanin accused of having "close friendly ties to the Rassemblement National" in an interview with the BFMTV television station. In January, the daily newspaper Libération revealed that the association was closely involved in the Rassemblement National's regional election campaign. Marine Le Pen always tries to keep her distance in public from right-wing extremist violent criminals, whom her father Jean-Marie once brought into the party.
- Political scientist Jean-Yves Camus estimated the core of the group to be around 50 people. The effect of the ban was rather small, the group would "probably be re-established under a different name," Camus told the daily newspaper Le Parisien.
