French PM appeals to stop far-right win

France's election campaign has come to a close, with voters seemingly poised to deliver a significant victory to the National Rally party in parliamentary elections, despite last-minute pleas to reject the far right.

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal expressed concern about the potential consequences, cautioning against the release of "impulses of hate and aggression."

However, the political party led by Marine Le Pen and the young 28-year-old Jordan Bardella, who is considered a potential future prime minister, has only solidified its position at the top of the opinion polls.

National Rally has faced a string of allegations regarding racism, which have implicated both party members and supporters.

Now, the pressing question at hand is whether it will be able to secure a decisive majority in the upcoming two rounds, scheduled for the next two Sundays.

They have a significant chance after European elections on 9 June turned most of France's electoral map dark blue. In a surprising move, Emmanuel Macron announced a general election to be held in a mere three weeks, leaving the French people stunned.

The National Rally (RN) is preparing for an eventful evening on Sunday as the campaign draws to a close. According to a recent opinion poll conducted just hours before, support for the party stands at 36.5%.

The candidates aim to secure a significant number of seats in the National Assembly with a majority of the vote. However, the majority of seats will be determined through run-off votes on 7 July, with two, three, or even four contenders vying for victory.

Opinion polls may not provide a complete picture, and the New Popular Front, a left-wing alliance, is also vying for victory. At 29%, it trails the RN by just a few points.

According to the Ifop poll, the Ensemble alliance, led by Gabriel Attal, is currently in third place with 20.5% support. According to him, the other main blocs are both extreme.

L'Aisne, a rural department in the north of mainland France, showed the highest level of support for the National Rally in the European vote, with just over 50% of the population backing the party.

In 2022, L'Aisne saw the rise of three RN MPs, while the town of Villers-Cotterêts has been under the leadership of National Rally mayor Franck Briffaut for a remarkable ten years.

With over 40 years of experience in the party, dating back to its earlier days under Jean-Marie Le Pen, this individual believes that the journey to power has been unavoidable, much like Giorgia Meloni's triumphant election in Italy.

However, similar to others in his political party, he is determined to achieve nothing short of an overwhelming majority in the National Assembly. This would necessitate securing at least 289 out of the 577 parliamentary seats.

"I refuse to participate, as it appears to be a scheme orchestrated by Macron." If we secure an overwhelming majority, he must step down. With his presence, our entire program is at a standstill. According to the speaker, there is a pressing need for changes to the constitution.

President Macron has made a firm commitment to remain in office until the end of his term in 2027. He emphasised that it was his responsibility to select the next prime minister after the conclusion of the second round of elections on 7 July.

Jordan Bardella, whose campaign posters boldly proclaim his ambition for an absolute majority, remains resolute in his determination.

One question that remains to be answered is who Mr. Macron will choose if the RN fails to meet expectations. According to constitutional expert Prof Dominique Rousseau, naming a prime minister that nobody would want would be pointless, as per Emmanuel Macron.

However, in the absence of an absolute majority, the president can navigate the situation flexibly, according to his statement.

Typically, the largest political party would be the source of this. However, in the event of their refusal, an alternative option would be to seek a consensus figure who can unite the remaining factions of the centre-right and centre-left.

Jordan Bardella has taken the lead, revealing during a recent TV debate that he has a potential "government of national unity" prepared.

Mr. Bardella has pledged to form a government that encompasses individuals with diverse talents, including those who are passionate about France's sovereignty but have yet to be widely recognized.

Nevertheless, he mentioned former conservative leader Eric Ciotti, who isolated himself from his colleagues by forming an alliance with RN.

It may not be easy to believe, and the idea of sharing power with President Macron for three challenging years in French politics seems daunting.

Marine Le Pen, the leader of the National Rally party, has sparked controversy by seemingly questioning the president's authority as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, suggesting it is merely a ceremonial title.

In light of the high stakes and fervor surrounding this election campaign, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has issued a cautionary statement regarding the potential for disruptive actions by extremist factions following the conclusion of both rounds of voting. According to reports, local prefects have been urged to exercise vigilance.

I am stepping away from the tumultuous world of Parisian politics. In the northern town of Soissons, a Greens campaigner distributed leaflets to a small group of passers-by. Soissons has been under the leadership of a National Rally MP for the past two years.

He criticized the RN's lack of action during his time in office in addressing the needs of this long-standing and currently marginalized town.

In the bustling shopping district, the party is still commonly known as National Front, despite Marine Le Pen's vigorous attempts to revamp its image and distance it from its history of racism and anti-Semitism.

Jonathan believes that the RN is similar to its predecessor, but he remains calm and unconcerned. He points out that the Assembly and the constitution contain safeguards that prevent the possibility of a dictatorship taking hold.

A concerned mother from a nearby village expressed her worry about the high RN vote, particularly as a black family: "It's quite significant." We were surprised that RN emerged as the frontrunner in L'Aisne, winning the majority of votes.

She believes that the far right will face challenges in altering the constitution, but her primary concern is their use of rhetoric.

RN's primary focus is on the "National Priority" platform, which involves limiting social welfare benefits to French citizens. Additionally, they propose tax cuts on energy and exemptions from income tax for individuals under the age of 30.

The party claims that a significant number of essential and strategic positions in France would be restricted to individuals who hold only French citizenship, excluding dual nationals who account for approximately 5% of the population.

According to one MP, the decision to appoint Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, a former Education Minister of Moroccan descent, was deemed a mistake.

Marine Le Pen swiftly responded, indicating that the issue of 3.3 million French citizens holding dual nationality is likely to remain prominent.

Mayor Franck Briffaut expressed his personal view on dual nationals, stating that he is not in favor of them.

He made these remarks during an interview in Villers-Cotterêts.