The president of the National Group, Jordan Bardella, called for calm on Friday ahead of a tense weekend in France, as several demonstrations against the extreme right are planned. Bardella urged all political parties, including those on the left, to advocate for peace. He is running as a candidate for prime minister for the National Group in the upcoming legislative elections set for June 30 and July 7.
The National Rally’s resounding victory in the European elections caused a political earthquake in France. President Emmanuel Macron called for early elections in response to the extreme right’s success, leading to protests against them. Bardella criticized those rejecting the election results, stating that democracy should not be questioned to such an extent.
Following Macron’s announcement of early elections, left-wing parties have reached an agreement to participate together, while the center-right Les Republicains is facing internal strife over potentially aligning with Le Pen. Polls currently predict a victory for the National Group, but the left-wing parties, forming the New Popular Front, have gained ground and are trailing Le Pen by only three percentage points.
In conclusion, Bardella’s appeal for calm and unity among political parties underscores the tense political climate in France following the European elections and the impending legislative elections. The country’s political landscape is shifting, with both the extreme right and left gaining momentum, setting the stage for a highly contested and consequential election cycle.