Barcelona and France star Jules Kounde is the latest to speak out against the far-right in France and call on people to vote.
He is following in the footsteps of a number of his Les Bleus teammates, with Marcus Thuram being the first to express his dismay at the rise of France’s National Assembly (RN), led by Marine Le Pen. Kylian Mbappé supported him in his fight against ‘extremes’, Antoine Griezmann called politics something very personal, and Aurelien Tchouameni supported his now Real Madrid teammate.
Yesterday morning, as the polls opened in France, Kounde told the French public that it is both a duty and a right to vote.
“It is an important day for France and for its future. Today, voting is both a duty and a right.”
“The power of democracy is that every vote counts and everyone is free to express their opinion.”
“I see for myself that the far right has never led a country to more freedoms, more justice and more coexistence. And I don’t think it ever will.”
It is an important day for France and for the future. While the time comes, the voter is a good choice.
The strength of democracy is that every vote counts and everyone is free to express their opinion.
To me it is clear that the far right side does not…
— Jules Kounde (@jkeey4) June 30, 2024
“I see a party that is based on hatred towards others, disinformation and whose words are meant to stigmatize and divide us.”
“The RN is not a solution. This is not a lesson, it is just my opinion. And you do with it what you want.”
It is a common topic for the French at Euro 2024, with most press conferences containing a reference to the current political situation. Things did not go as Kounde had hoped, with the RN coming out on top in the first round of elections. A second round will take place on July 7 to determine whether Le Pen can form a government as leader.
