As the European election campaign in France enters its final stretch, the candidates are intensifying their efforts, aimed at undecided and younger voters.
Jordan Bardella, the candidate for the far-right National Rally party, held his last public meeting in Paris on Sunday.
Leading the polls with 32 per cent of voting intentions, he called on electors to vote against French president Emmanuel Macron’s party Renaissance.
"Next Sunday, to abstain is to vote for Macron. Next Sunday, splitting up on other lists will strengthen Macron. Next Sunday, voting for other [smaller] parties will only strengthen Macron," he said in front of a cheering crowd of 5000 people.
French Prime Minister steps up campaign for his candidate Valérie Hayer
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal called on voters to fight against the rise of the far-right during a meeting near Paris on Saturday held by Valérie Hayer, the EU election candidate for Macron’s party.
"Europe could die because the far-right is gaining power across the continent. Europe will die if we do nothing if we stay at home like passive spectators," the minister insisted.
Valérie Hayer is currently struggling in the polls -- 15 points behind Bardella's National Rally.
Left calls on younger voters
On the left, calls for mobilisation also multiplied this weekend.
Neck and neck with Macron’s party in the polls, Socialist candidate Raphael Glucksmann continued his campaign in the southern city of Marseille on Saturday, promising to be "the big and beautiful surprise" of these elections.
He called on young and absentee voters to support his campaign.
"I call upon the young people of France: I see the risk of abstention, don't let anyone decide your future for you," he said, hoping to grab second place by overtaking Valérie Hayer's party.
A similar call to the youth was made by left-wing candidate Manon Aubry, representing La France Insoumise party in the southwestern city of Toulouse in front of 3,000 people, according to the organisers.
"We are calling out to them today. The young people are full of hope, but also full of concern. Young people who are mobilising for the climate, for Gaza, for their rights," Aubry said.
The MEP is far behind Socialist Raphaël Glucksmann at 8.5 per cent of voting intentions.
The head of the Green Party Marie Toussaint also held a meeting near Paris on Sunday, as the MEP’s campaign is dangerously slipping below the threshold of 5 per cent of voting intentions necessary to send politicians to Parliament.
The official campaign period will end on Friday. Over the weekend, nearly 50 million French voters will choose 81 MEPs to represent them in the European Parliament.
