DÜSSELDORF, Germany (AP) — French footballer Jules Koundé said he is “disappointed in the direction our country is going” after results from the first round of parliamentary elections brought the country’s far-right party closer than ever to power.
Marine Le Pen’s Rassemblement National, a party with a history of racism and xenophobia and once shunned by the mainstream, took about 33% of the vote. The decisive second round of voting is on Sunday.
“It’s not over yet,” Koundé said, speaking through an interpreter after France’s 1-0 win over Belgium at the European Championship. “It’s very important that the far-right party … doesn’t come in.”
By tapping into voters’ frustration with inflation and the sense that many French families are being left behind by globalization, the Rassemblement National hopes to claim an absolute majority and form France’s first far-right government since World War II. But the outcome remains uncertain amid the complex voting system and political tactics.
The French players, many of whom have a migration background, were regularly asked about the political situation in their home country during press conferences around the 2024 European Championship.
France star Kylian Mbappé previously called on the French to vote, warning against “extremes” at a time when the far-right is seeking to seize power. Another team member, Ousmane Dembele, said “the alarm bells have been rung” and Marcus Thuram went further, saying the French must “fight every day so that … the National Rally does not succeed.”
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AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024
