Emmanuel Macron warns of 'civil war' if far-right or far-left win French elections

In a recent interview, French President Emmanuel Macron warned that voting for either the far-right National Rally or the leftist New Popular Front could lead to civil war in France. Macron criticized the extreme right for promoting division based on religion or origin, while also condemning the extreme left for categorizing people solely based on their religious outlook or community, which he believes could lead to civil unrest. Macron's comments were supported by his Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, who accused both parties of fueling division and hatred in the country. The National Rally's candidate for prime minister, Jordan Bardella, dismissed Macron's warnings as dangerous rhetoric and pointed to the civil unrest that occurred during Macron's presidency, including racially-inspired riots following a police shooting. Bardella emphasized his party's focus on mainstream issues such as cutting immigration and inflation, which resonates with a large percentage of the public. He expressed a desire to bring unity and authority to the country, regardless of political affiliations. Macron's decision to dissolve parliament and call for snap elections comes at a challenging time for his party, Renaissance, which suffered defeat in the recent European elections. The far-right National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen, emerged as a frontrunner in the parliamentary election, posing a significant threat to Macron's leadership. With the possibility of a far-right government in France for the first time since 1945, Macron faces a tough political landscape where his strategy to defeat the right has backfired and could potentially lead to an unexpected outcome with the rise of the left. As Macron navigates the political turmoil in France, the country stands at a crossroads with the looming threat of extremism from both the far-right and the far-left. The upcoming elections will determine the future direction of French politics, with Macron's leadership and the stability of the country hanging in the balance. The electorate faces a critical decision on whether to support Macron's centrist approach or embrace the more polarizing ideologies of the National Rally and the New Popular Front.