France’s rushed and sometimes violent election campaign is over, concluding with stark appeals from political leaders ahead of Sunday’s pivotal vote.
Centrist Prime Minister Gabriel Attal warned on Friday night that a far-right government would “unleash hatred and violence.”
In contrast, the leader of the National Rally, Jordan Bardella, accused his rivals of immoral, anti-democratic behavior, urging voters to mobilize and grant him an outright majority.
Last Sunday, one in three French voters supported the National Rally (RN) in the first round of parliamentary elections.
The upcoming choice is between France’s first far-right government of modern times or political deadlock, and voters fear turmoil regardless of the outcome.
The climate is so tense that 30,000 extra police officers are being deployed.
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin reported that 51 candidates, or their deputies or party activists, had been physically attacked by individuals of various backgrounds, including some who were “spontaneously angry.”
In one incident, an extremist network published a list of nearly 100 lawyers “for eliminating” after they signed an open letter opposing the National Rally.