French football star Kylian Mbappé has publicly called on the nation's youth to vote against political extremes in the upcoming snap parliamentary elections. His comments, made at a press conference with the French national team on July 5, 2024, were widely interpreted as a critique of the far-right National Rally party.
"We are at a crucial moment in our country's history," Mbappé stated. "The extremes are at the gates of power. We have the opportunity to choose the future of our country. I call on all young people to go out and vote, to really become aware of the importance of this event." He emphasized the need to vote for a "more inclusive and tolerant" France.
Mbappé's intervention came after President Emmanuel Macron called for the elections following his party's defeat in the European Parliament elections. The National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, won that vote. The first round of the French legislative elections is scheduled for June 30, 2024, with the second round on July 7, 2024.
While some politicians criticized the athlete for speaking out, his stance was supported by his teammate Marcus Thuram, who had earlier made a more explicit call to block the far right. French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo defended the players' right to express their opinions as citizens.
