Attacks on candidates and political activists on the eve of the French parliamentary elections

Reports indicate that the French parliamentary elections were accompanied by aggression and verbal attacks, and French Interior Minister Gerald Daronin announced that 51 electoral candidates or political activists were targeted during the recent campaigns. 

According to the Agence France-Presse, tensions increased especially on the eve of the second round of elections that will be held on Sunday, and 30 militants who were from far-right and far-left parties were arrested.

French President Emmanuel Macron dissolved parliament last month and announced early elections, just weeks before the Olympics were to be hosted in Paris. The National Assembly party headed by Marine Le Pen, a far-right party, won the most votes in the first round of the parliamentary elections, ahead of Emmanuel Macron’s moderate party. In response to this incident, Macron’s “Renaissance” party has cooperated with left-wing parties in recent days and altogether removed more than 200 candidates from the second round of elections in order to prevent the division of votes in favor of the extreme right.

Following the police fear of an increase in violence when the final election results are announced, 30,000 police forces are to be deployed in Paris and its surrounding areas on Sunday night.

Translator: Zahra Najafi