Jordan Bardella affirms the RN’s ability to govern, while Gabriel Attal tries to revive the presidential camp which is struggling six days before the first round.
Six days before the first round of the legislative elections, Jordan Bardella affirmed Monday the ability of the National Rally (RN) to govern. During a press conference, he tried to dispel doubts about his program and his ability to lead, particularly after a week of uncertainty within the Le Pen camp.
On pensions, Bardella reiterated his intention to favour long careers from the autumn: “French people who started working before the age of 20 and who have forty years of contributions will be able to retire at the age of 60”. In terms of education, he announced a “big bang of authority” with the banning of mobile phones in middle and high schools, the use of the formal “vous” by teachers, and the experimentation of uniforms in primary and middle schools.
In front of Marine Le Pen and Eric Ciotti, with whom he formed an alliance, Bardella confirmed that the most strategic positions in the State would be reserved for French citizens with only one nationality, thus excluding dual nationals. He also assured that he would be vigilant against attempts at interference by Russia if he came to power.
Credited with around 35% of voting intentions in the first round and a relative to absolute majority in the hemicycle on July 7, according to several polling institutes, the RN is the target of its adversaries, in particular the New Popular Front (27% to 29.5%) and the presidential camp (around 20%). Jean-Luc Mélenchon criticized the RN, accusing it of creating an atmosphere of fear among “mixed race, racialized people”, in reference to the stigmatizations after the riots following the death of young Nahel.
Gabriel Attal, campaigning in Dijon, took the opportunity to invite Jean-Luc Mélenchon to debate on TF1 with Bardella and himself, rather than sending LFI spokesperson Manuel Bompard. Bardella supported this invitation, recalling that the channel had invited the candidates for the post of Prime Minister.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon responded by saying that the next prime minister would be proposed by the largest parliamentary group after the elections, criticizing the nomination of Attal as a “favor of the prince.” The leaders of the New Popular Front parties plan to share the various televised debates of the first and second rounds.
Laurent Berger, former secretary general of the CFDT, declared in Le Monde that the priority was to avoid the RN, adding that the choice of prime minister was not his main concern. For his part, Gabriel Attal affirmed that the RN was not ready to govern, insisting on the fact that the RN is an opposition party and not a government party.
Emmanuel Macron indirectly responded to the criticism by assuring that he was aware that many in the majority were angry with him, but expressed his confidence in the voters. “It will be the responsibility of the French people” on the evening of the second round, he added.
