Support for the anti-immigration and eurosceptic National Rally (RN) party has surged despite President Emmanuel Macron’s pledges to prevent its ascent. In an editorial, French daily Le Monde said it was time to mobilise against the far right. President Macron has deplored “racism or anti-Semitism”. The French president apparently hoped to catch political opponents off guard by presenting voters with a crucial choice about France’s future, but observers say he might have lost his gamble. Under President Macron, France has been one of Ukraine’s main Western backers since Russia invaded in 2022.

Source: The Hindu June 30, 2024 12:03 UTC