As France gears up for the second round of elections on Sunday, tensions are rising among political candidates. While centrists and left-wing figures are aiming for a republican front to oppose the far right, Marine Le Pen has dismissed their efforts, criticizing the political class in a tweet. Ecologist candidate Sandrine Rousseau has expressed opposition to forming a coalition with members of Macron’s camp, while former prime minister Édouard Philippe has indicated he will vote for a communist candidate to oppose the far right.
In a controversial move, disgraced former IMF managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn gave an interview on French television, sparking renewed debates about his past allegations of sexual assault. Vice president of the far-right National Rally, Louis Aliot, believes that French people are more afraid of the hard-left party France Unbowed than of his own party.
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has called for blocking the far right from gaining a majority, emphasizing the need to prevent them from governing the country. Former President François Hollande has expressed satisfaction with the New Popular Front, which has allowed for a rebalancing of the left.
Amid pressure for a republican front, 221 candidates withdrew from the elections, leading to multiple three-way races. With the political landscape in France heating up, Sunday’s elections are sure to be closely watched. Stay tuned for more updates as the situation unfolds.
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