Candidates in France are making their final efforts ahead of the decisive second round of legislative elections following a campaign marred by hate speech and violence. There have been 51 verbal and physical attacks against candidates and their supporters, according to French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin. Numerous suspects have been arrested in connection with the attacks, which have targeted candidates from various political backgrounds.
The tension is palpable as left-wing and moderate factions aim to prevent the far-right National Rally party from securing an absolute majority in the parliament, a significant shift in France’s political landscape. While the National Rally led in the initial round of voting, they did not gain enough support for an outright victory. The upcoming election on Sunday will see 30,000 police officers deployed to uphold the integrity of the electoral process.
Amid concerns over a rise in support for the National Rally, which promotes anti-immigrant sentiments, there are worries that public discourse has become more racist and xenophobic. The surge in backing for the National Rally has emboldened individuals to use prejudiced language openly. Instances of hate speech and physical violence have been reported by candidates across the political spectrum during the campaign.
Government spokesperson Prisca Thevenot, a candidate for the centrist Ensemble alliance, recounted an incident where she and her colleagues were attacked while putting up election posters near Paris. French President Emmanuel Macron called for the legislative election after his party faced a significant defeat by the National Rally in the European Parliament election, prompting a swift legislative campaign.
