Emmanuel Macron has warned France is at risk of being plunged into a “civil war” as the National Rally streaks ahead in the opinion polls.
The populist party received 36 per cent in the latest opinion poll, with Macron’s centrist coalition receiving just 20 per cent support.
The left-wing New Popular Front also overtook Ensemble on 27 per cent.
Macron appeared to desperately attempt to rally support yesterday, warning the programmes of the “extremes” could lead to “civil war”.
France's President Emmanuel Macron speaks during the annual "Fete de la musique" one-day music festival in the courtyard of the Elysee presidential palace in ParisREUTERSThe French President’s comments came a day before National Rally leader Jordan Bardella unveiled a more detailed plan of his proposals if his party were to win.
Macron claimed the populist right’s answer to insecurity “reduces people to their religion or their origin” and therefore “pushes people towards civil war”.
Taking aim at left-wing Eurosceptic Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Macron added that he encourages a form of division for electioneering purposes “that also [promotes] civil war because it reduces people to their religious or ethnic group”.
Addressing the left and right, the French President concluded: “When you are fed up, and daily life is hard, you can be tempted to vote for the extremes that have quicker solutions.
“But the solution will never be to reject others.”
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Jordan Bardella (left) and Marine Le Pen (right)GETTYBardella pledges to cut energy taxes to help people make ends meet, ban mobile phones from all schools, and prevent dual nationals from taking certain strategic jobs in the security or defence sector.
Bardella said: “We are the only alternative. We are credible, responsible and respect French institutions.”
He added: “Seven long years of Macronism has weakened the country.”
The EU Parliamentary Election in France resulted in National Rally picking up 30 MEPs with 31 per cent of the vote.
Macron’s centrist coalition was reduced to just 13 MEPs as its vote share collapsed to 14.6 per cent.
Macron ReutersRaphael Glucksman fell just short of leapfrogging the centrist faction and equalled its number of MEPs.
Despite Macron’s latest warning, the EU’s ex-Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier warned the French President risked a Frexit moment.
He told The Telegraph: “I regret that in my country this warning has not been listened to… about migration, about security, about authority of the state, and the respect and development of the poorest parts of the country.”
Barnier added: “It is my conviction that we have to pay huge attention and great respect to what people on the ground think in some very poor regions.
“That was the case in the UK explaining a large part of the Brexit vote, and I think it could be the same in France.”
