Kylian Mbappé Urges French Youth to Vote Against Extremism Ahead of Elections

French football star Kylian Mbappé has called on the young population of France to actively participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections and stand against extremist ideologies that are gaining momentum in the political landscape.

President Emmanuel Macron recently announced snap elections following the success of Marine Le Pen‘s right-wing National Rally in the European elections, leading to a heightened sense of urgency in the campaign.

Mbappé, who is a key player for the French national team, highlighted the critical juncture in France’s history and emphasized the importance of the youth vote in shaping the country’s future direction.

While Mbappé did not specifically name any individuals or parties, his remarks were seen as a clear call to reject extremist forces that are on the verge of coming to power.

During a recent interview, Mbappé’s teammate Marcus Thuram expressed a similar sentiment, underscoring the need to prevent the far-right National Rally from gaining significant influence.

In response to Mbappé’s appeal, National Rally candidate Nicolas Conquer criticized the footballer, questioning the involvement of a sports figure in directing voters on how to cast their ballots.

The political scenario in France has witnessed the emergence of new alliances and fractures, with former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe leading a party allied to President Macron’s bloc in a bid to secure a new parliamentary majority.

On the left, the formation of a new alliance called the New Popular Front, encompassing Socialists, Greens, and the hard-leftist France Unbowed, has faced internal divisions, particularly around the divisive figure of Jean-Luc Mélenchon.

Meanwhile, the Republicans party experienced turmoil as its leader Eric Ciotti entered into an electoral pact with the far-right, leading to challenges within the party and a subsequent legal battle over his expulsion.

Former socialist President Francois Hollande announced his intention to run for parliament again, adding another layer of complexity to the already dynamic political landscape in France.

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, spearheading the campaign for President Macron’s bloc, highlighted the three distinct choices facing voters and cautioned against the potential detrimental impact of both the left-wing Popular Front and the far-right National Rally on the country.