In the wake of its victory in the European elections, the National Rally is entering this legislative campaign at the top of the polls, given around 30% of the votes. This possibility of seeing the “extremes” – according to the expression of Kylian Mbappé -, and in particular the RN of Jordan Bardella and Marine Le Pen, come to power in France arouses the concern of many personalities in the world of sport. The Express make the point.
Mbappé tackles “the extremes”
The preparation of the Blues for Euro 2024, which begins Monday (9:00 p.m.) for the vice-world champions against Austria in Düsseldorf, continues to be impacted by the political crisis in France. The words of the superstar of the Blues, accustomed to giving his opinion and sharing his opinion on social issues, were particularly awaited. The attacker, as usual, weighed his words carefully and did not kick into touch. “I am against extremes, ideas that divide,” declared the future Real Madrid player (25 years old) during the press conference the day before the match, without specifying which political groups he had in his sights.
“I think we are at a crucial moment in the history of our country. The situation is unprecedented, which is why I want to address all the French people and the young generation who can make a difference. I call on young people to go and vote, we see that the extremes are at the gates of power, we have the opportunity to choose the future of our country,” he added. For Mbappé, “the situation is more important than tomorrow’s match (Monday)” and he refused to appear as someone “disconnected”, highlighting the “values of tolerance, diversity and respect”. “I hope that we will still be proud to wear this jersey on July 7”, at the end of the second round of the legislative elections, he continued.
Mbappé’s exit came after the publication on Saturday evening of a press release from the French Football Federation asking to “avoid any form of pressure and political use of the France team” and calling for respect for its “neutrality “, in response to Marcus Thuram’s anti-RN statements. Just before this update, the president of the FFF Philippe Diallo had spoken on the phone with Mbappé and the vice-captain, Antoine Griezmann, according to a source close to the matter.
Thuram: “We must fight so that the RN does not pass”
The day before, Marcus Thuram had been the first blue summoned for Euro 2024 to take a position so clearly against the National Rally in view of the early legislative elections of June 30 and July 7. “I think the situation is sad, very serious, declared the Inter Milan player at a press conference. “I learned about it (the RN’s victory in the Europeans, editor’s note) after the match against Canada (Sunday , editor’s note), we were all a little shocked in the locker room. We must tell everyone to go and vote, to fight on a daily basis so that the RN does not pass.”
“I hope everyone shares my opinion, it is not enough to say that we have to go and vote, we have to explain how we got there,” he explained. “I don’t think it’s very complicated to express yourself on this, it comes from my upbringing, I know that lots of people follow me on the networks, I am obliged to convey certain messages. Growing up with my father , I feel responsible for keeping this kind of message,” continued the son of Lilian Thuram, the 1998 world champion known for his commitment to anti-racism. “I have no doubt about the fact that everyone thinks like me in the French team. I am not here to force someone to say something even if they think it. Thanks to my father I have a good handle on this situation to be able to talk about it,” he added.
A column in L’Equipe against the far right
Several dozen French sports personalities call in a column published Sunday on the website of The Team to vote against the far right during the early legislative elections of June 30 and July 7. “Today, we are behind, on the verge of losing the match. But we still have a few days of extra time to react,” they write in this column. “Let’s vote against the far right, which has just achieved a historic score in the European elections,” they add.
“We are well aware of the growing difficulties many face in making ends meet, anger at inequality, lack of commitment and fear of the future. But as professional sportspeople, coaches and decision-makers , we cannot resign ourselves to seeing the extreme right take power in our country,” they continue.
The platform has been signed at this stage by more than 60 personalities, athletes, coaches or managers, including former athletes Marie-José Pérec and Monique Ewanje-Epée, sailors Isabelle Autissier and François Gabart, former footballer Vikash Dhorasoo or again the ex-rugbymen Serge Betsen and Fulgence Ouedraogo or Yannick Noah, the last Frenchman to win the Roland-Garros tournament. Its authors believe that the far right “tramples on respect”, which they erect as “one of the cornerstones of sport”.