French President Emmanuel Macron issued a stark warning in an interview on the 'Generation Do It Yourself' podcast on Thursday, suggesting that a victory for the far-right or far-left in the upcoming parliamentary elections could lead to civil war. Macron emphasized the dangers posed by both ends of the political spectrum, highlighting the potential for societal division and conflict.
"I don't think we can allow solutions from the far-right," Macron stated. "They categorize and segregate people based on their religion or origin, which can lead to division and civil war." Macron's comments reflect his longstanding opposition to the far-right, and he has strongly urged voters not to support these factions in the parliamentary elections.
Rise of the Far-Right
The far-right party, Rassemblement National (RN), led by Marine Le Pen, emerged as the significant victor in the recent European Parliament elections in France, securing over 30% of the vote. In contrast, Macron's party, Renaissance, garnered just under 15%. This rise has triggered widespread protests across France, reflecting deep societal divisions and unrest.
Far-Left Criticism
Macron also criticized the far-left party, La France Insoumise, warning that their victory could similarly result in civil conflict. "They sort and categorize people based on religious ideas or community affiliations, isolating them from the rest of society," Macron said. "This will lead to a civil war with those who do not share the same values."
Both the far-right and far-left have condemned Macron's statements. Jordan Bardella of Rassemblement National remarked, "A president should not say such things," while socialist politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon blamed Macron's own policies for creating civil unrest.
France's parliamentary elections are scheduled in two rounds: the first on June 30 and the second on July 7.
