France Preparing for Possible Post-Election Violence
In response to concerns about potential violence, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has ordered the police to deploy 30K officers across France after this Sunday's second round of parliamentary elections....
Facts
- In response to concerns about potential violence, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has ordered the police to deploy 30K officers across France after this Sunday's second round of parliamentary elections.1
- Darmanin said 5K police officers will be deployed in the Paris region to 'ensure that the radical right and radical left do not take advantage of the situation to cause mayhem.'2
- The decision to deploy extra police came after campaign workers and candidates were attacked this week while hanging posters, resulting in rising fear of violence.3
- If Marine Le Pen's conservative National Rally (RN) wins Sunday’s runoff, political leaders fear massive protests and the possibility of “civil war,' as warned by Pres. Emmanuel Macron.4
- RN needs 289 MPs for a majority. Many third-place candidates have dropped out of the campaign to reduce the number of three-way races Sunday and limit RN's gains.1
- A Harris Interactive poll for Challenges magazine released this week predicted RN would get 190-220 seats, while the center-right Republicans (LR) would win 30-50 — potentially leaving the coalition shy of the majority it seeks.5
Sources: 1Guardian, 2WION, 3Voice of America, 4Yahoo News and 5Reuters.
Narratives
- Right narrative, as provided by RFI. The people are suffering under Macron’s leadership, and France must reform now. The French people need to mobilize and vote Sunday for the National Rally to win an absolute majority and enable Le Pen to form a government with Jordan Bardella as prime minister. This change is dependent on a high voter turnout.
- Left narrative, as provided by Jacobin. The RN has never been closer to seizing power in France as it is now, and that's why left-wing parties have allied in a Nouveau Front Populaire, challenging both Macron and Le Pen. This alliance offers an alternative that, upon regaining control of government, would begin taxing the wealthy and powerful. France cannot give in to far-right extremism.
