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Soccer star Kylian Mbappé has expressed his dismay over the results of the first round of French elections, describing them as “catastrophic.” Last Sunday’s vote saw the anti-immigration party National Rally (RN) leading in first place, pushing France towards a
far-right political stance.
Mbappé, the captain of France’s national soccer team, is currently in Hamburg preparing for Les Bleus’ Euro 2024 quarterfinal against Portugal on Friday. He took the opportunity to urge the French public to vote, emphasizing the urgent need for civic participation. “There’s an emergency, we can’t let our country in the hands of these people, it’s really urgent,” Mbappé stated during a media conference in Hamburg, Germany.
The unexpected snap parliamentary elections, called by President Emmanuel Macron in June, have thrown France into political uncertainty and unsettled financial markets. The far-right RN’s potential rise to power marks a significant political shift. Last Sunday, the
RN secured 33.15% of the vote, with the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) coalition coming in second, and President Macron’s party falling to third.
If the RN gains power, it would be the first time a far-right party has entered the French government since World War II, though the outcome remains uncertain ahead of the second round of voting on Sunday. Mbappé is hopeful that the French electorate will mobilize for the second round. “We really hope that it’ll change and that everyone will mobilize to vote and make the right choice,” he said.
This is not the first time Mbappé has addressed French politics while with the national team at Euro 2024. Last month, he urged the French public, particularly the youth, to take action. “This is a never-seen-before event,” he told reporters. “And that is why I want to talk to the whole of the French people, but also the youth. We are a generation that can make a difference. We see the extremes are knocking on the door of power and we have the opportunity to shape our country’s future.”
Mbappé, whose family hails from Algeria and Cameroon, stressed his unwillingness to represent a country that does not align with his values. Earlier this week, Mbappé’s teammate Jules Kounde also voiced his political stance during a media conference at the Euros tournament. The 25-year-old French-Beninese national expressed disappointment over France’s political direction, highlighting the
importance of blocking the National Rally.
“I was disappointed to see the direction France is taking, with strong support for a party against our values … I believe it’s important to block the extreme right, the National Rally, because this party will not lead our country towards more freedom,” Kounde told journalists after the last-16 match between France and Belgium on Monday.
