On Monday, two ministers from the centralist government of French President Emmanuel Macron, expressed anxiety related to the prospective civil instability and potential violence linked to the imminent snap parliamentary elections. The far-right is expected to gain a significant percentage of votes in the same. In the wake of the National Rally (RN) – a nationalistic, anti-immigration party led by Marine Le Pen – coming out on top in the EU elections a fortnight earlier, Macron has decided to defragment the parliament and declare elections to coincide with the Paris Olympics’ commencement on July 26th.
Both the finance and interior ministers relayed their apprehensions about a possible upsurge in civil dissent due to the far-right’s success and the ensuing estrangement in French legislature and public. Finance minister Bruno Le Maire shared his concerns on France Info radio, expressing doubts about the RN’s contribution to stability and peace and viewing it more as a potential source of disturbance and hostility.
While RN leader Jordan Bardella rubbished these claims at a press conference, opinion polls reveal RN outstripping the competition ahead of the initial voting round on June 30th. RN is followed by the New Popular Front, a new left-wing coalition, and Macron’s centralist Together group in the popularity race. The subsequent voting round is scheduled for July 7th.
The interior minister, Gerald Darmanin, has forewarned about the probability of heightened tensions, not only during the election timeframe but also for the post-summer return to work. Despite its efforts at rebranding under Marine Le Pen, after being ostracised due to founder Jean-Marie Le Pen’s overt anti-Semitism, the RN faces resistance not only from its rivals but also due to the extreme attitudes held by some of its fringes.
Gabriel Attal, the openly homosexual prime minister of France and leader of the centrist faction’s campaign, expressed concerns last week that a victory for the far-right might embolden discriminating individuals. His remarks followed a disturbing incident where a suspect in an anti-gay assault seemingly celebrated the potential of far-right triumph, believing it would facilitate further attacks on the gay community. Mr Attal presented this as indicative of a certain kind of loathing that might be inadvertently facilitated.
Looking historically, similar situations have occurred in the UK where post-Brexit vote in 2016 saw a spike in hate crimes against communities including Poles, Muslims and other minorities. This widespread hatred was somewhat motivated by a need to limit immigration.
France too, has confronted its issues with violent demonstrations and riots traceable back to societal divisions. For instance, the shooting of a young man of Algerian ethnicity by the police caused an eruption of riotous behaviour throughout the country last summer. – Reuters
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