German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has expressed concern about the possibility of a far-right victory in France’s upcoming snap parliamentary elections. In an interview with public broadcaster ARD, Scholz stated that he hopes the parties opposing Marine Le Pen will be successful in the elections, but ultimately it will be up to the French people to decide.
Recent polls suggest that President Emmanuel Macron’s governing alliance would come in third in the legislative elections on June 30, with a second round on July 7. The Rassemblement National (RN) led by Marine Le Pen and a new left-wing alliance are expected to outperform Macron’s alliance. RN president Jordan Bardella could potentially become the next prime minister of France, under the condition that his party and its allies secure an absolute majority of seats.
In addition to the political landscape in France, Germany’s far-right AfD party has also gained ground in recent European Parliament elections. Meanwhile, Chancellor Scholz’s governing coalition suffered setbacks. The rise of far-right parties in both countries is a concerning trend that is being closely watched by European leaders.