Macron warns of ‘standstill’ if far-right wins EU elections
France’s President Emmanuel Macron has once again warned against the rise of the far-right parties in Europe, saying they can bring the continent to “a standstill.”
"Europe has never been so threatened," Macron said in televised interview on Thursday, referring to the rise of the far-right in France and other European countries.
"If tomorrow France sends a large far-right delegation and if other major countries do the same, Europe could find itself at a standstill," he said.
Macron called on people to go and vote in the European Parliament elections on Sunday.
"I see the levels of abstention (...) and I call on compatriots to go and vote on 9 June", he said, mentioning the opponents of Brexit, who did not come out in sufficient numbers to make their voices heard during the referendum held in 2016 about whether the UK should remain a member of the EU or leave the bloc.
Macron’s remarks came as polls are indicating France’s far-right National Rally is extending its lead against his party.
"We need it to protect France," Macron pleaded, warning against "a vote to vent our anger."
Macron was criticized by multiple opposing parties for making comments on the election, shortly before the electoral campaign ends in France.
The election campaign in the country ends at midnight on Friday, after which the candidates are not allowed to speak publicly about the election until the first exit polls on Sunday evening.
Late last month, Macron called the rise of the far-right parties and governments in European politics an “ill wind,” urging Europe to “wake up.”
Voting for the four-day European Parliament elections kicked off in the Netherlands on Thursday.
The 27 EU countries have the elections on different days; for instance, people in France and Sweden will head to polls on June 9.
The 720 members of the European Parliament represent the interests of the approximately 450mn EU citizens at the European level.
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