France is gearing up for the second round of voting for the National Assembly after the far-right National Rally party emerged victorious in the first round. President Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance party lagged behind, prompting fears among left-wing voters of a possible RN victory. A coalition of left-wing parties, called the New Popular Front, is attempting to unite voters against the nationalist and anti-immigrant RN party. Macron has called for a large alliance to defeat the RN in the second round, but some Macron supporters are hesitant to back left-wing candidates. If the RN were to win an absolute majority, Jordan Bardella, Marine Le Pen’s protege, could become prime minister, allowing the far-right party to pass hardline legislation. Bardella’s proposals include denying convicts access to public housing and cutting France’s contributions to the EU. The prospect of the RN winning a majority has raised concerns about civil liberties and the future of democracy in France. With a significant chunk of young voters supporting the RN, there are fears that the far-right party could come to power for the first time in French history, posing a threat to democratic values and civil liberties. The second round of voting will determine the future direction of the country as France faces the possibility of electing a far-right government for the first time.
Source
Photo credit www.aljazeera.com
