France risks 'civil war' in voting far-right or far-left in crucial parliamentary elections: President Macron

PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that a ‘civil war’ could break if the far left or far right come to power, accusing the two camps of fuelling tensions with their divisive policies.

French voters head to the polls on Sunday (Jun 30) in the first round of voting.

Earlier this month, Mr Macron called for a snap legislative election after suffering a heavy defeat in European parliament elections. 

The legislative election in France - which will take place in two rounds - is among the most polarised and has been described as the most consequential since the 1950s. 

President Macron could face the prospect of having to work with a prime minister from a different political background, which could well hamper his influence, said observers.

AMONG THE MOST POLARISED ELECTIONS

Paris Deputy Mayor Jean-Luc Romero-Michel said there are concerns about unrest following the election.

“There’s a worry that perhaps in the coming days there could be people rioting and so on,” he said. 

“We don’t know what the situation will be. It’s irresponsible of the president to have had this whim to dissolve parliament, without even warning his own MPs, and he did it at a moment when you cannot do this.”

The far-right National Rally party has bolstered its lead ahead of the first round, and its leader Jordan Bardella, 28, is in the running to be the next prime minister.

The populist party wants to bring immigration down to zero, stop family reunifications, and beef up security on the country’s borders.

While its message sits well with some voters, it has also angered others, who have been holding protests across France in recent weeks.

“FULL OF UNCERTAINTIES”

Meanwhile, the left-wing New Popular Front coalition is trying to woo voters with a wealth tax on the rich and a windfall tax on big businesses, saying it will bring in billions of dollars to deal with the cost-of-living crisis.

For Mr Romero-Michel, the timing of the election is a great gamble.

“It’s a catastrophe, to have the election so quickly, coming just ahead of the Olympic Games, and here in Paris we are right in the heart of it as the host city,” he said.

“How can we at this moment take the responsibility of holding an election so suddenly, (one that) is full of uncertainties.”

While the first round of voting is not the definitive moment of the snap election, it will lay out the likely political landscape ahead of the second round on Jul 7, said observers.