Kylian Mbappé Urges French Youth to Reject Extremism Ahead of Parliamentary Elections.

By Caroline Ameh

Kylian Mbappé, the renowned French footballer, has stepped into the political arena, urging young voters in France to stand against “extremist” parties as the country gears up for its upcoming parliamentary elections. This appeal comes as President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist coalition faces mounting challenges from both right-wing factions and newly-formed alliances on the left.

The call to action from Mbappé, delivered during his visit to Germany ahead of France’s Euro 2024 opener, underscores the high stakes of the approaching elections. He highlighted the critical role young voters play in shaping the nation’s future, cautioning against the rise of extremist ideologies that he claimed were “at the gates of power.”

“We have an opportunity to choose the future of the country and we have to emphasise the importance of the task,” Mbappé asserted, while expressing concern over potential voter apathy among the youth.

Mbappé’s remarks follow a decision by President Macron to dissolve parliament and call for snap elections, prompted by the rise of Marine Le Pen’s right-wing National Rally in recent European elections. This move aims to forge a new parliamentary majority amidst a shifting political landscape.

In the lead-up to the elections scheduled for June 30 and July 7, France has witnessed the emergence of new political alignments. A left-wing coalition, dubbed the New Popular Front, has been forming, encompassing Socialists, Greens, and the hard-leftist France Unbowed (LFI). However, internal divisions within this coalition have already begun to surface, particularly regarding the leadership of figures like Jean-Luc Mélenchon.

Concurrently, turmoil on the right has been evident within the Republicans party, following an electoral pact with the far-right that has sparked internal dissent and legal disputes.

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, spearheading the campaign for President Macron’s bloc, warned voters of the perils posed by both the far-right National Rally and the left-wing Popular Front, characterizing their potential ascendance as “a disaster for the country.”

As the election campaign gains momentum, all eyes are on the French electorate’s response to Mbappé’s call to reject extremism and to shape the future political landscape of the nation.

President Macron, who has recently attended international summits in Italy and Switzerland, is expected to intensify his domestic campaign efforts in the coming days.