France on Verge of Political Victory for Radical Islamophobic Party

Following the relative victory of the French far-right National Rally in the elections of the European Parliament on June 8 and 9, and the subsequent dissolution of the National Assembly by French President Emmanuel Macron, hence the fierce competition for the National Assembly elections on June 30, debates and discussions revolving Muslims has become a sensitive topic of conflict between French parties vying for political dominance.

The results of the June-8 and-9 European Parliament elections in France seems to have caused a political turmoil in the country. Islamophobic far-right parties achieved relative victory and challenged the legitimacy of the established government.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who for the first time in the history of the Fifth Republic of France was not elected by any of the old and main left and right parties, dissolved the National Assembly and ordered new elections.

The French far-right National Rally led by Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, joined by the far-right Reconquête party led by Éric Zemmour, are working in alliance with the most important center-right Republicans party to defeat the leftist parties and gain the majority of seats in the French National Assembly and win the elections on June 30.

On the other hand, the left parties, including the La France Insoumise led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the Socialist Party, the Communist Party and the Greens have also formed a popular front to prevent the victory of the far-right.

In the popular literature of the anti-Islamic far-right-wing parties in recent years, one expression has been frequently used: Islamo-Leftism.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s and the communists’ widespread support for the rights of marginalized Muslims, especially the support for the rights of the people of Gaza in the recent Israel-Hamas war, has further popularized this expression.

The far-right is trying to project the majority of France’s problems on Muslim immigrants and has promised to impose more strict measures on Muslims if they win the National Assembly elections.

Jordan Bardella, the young president of the National Rally, who won high votes in the early June elections, is preparing himself for the prime ministership if he wins the elections on June 30. He has promised to ban the Islamic hijab on the streets of France and to sanction more strictness over the benefits of Muslims and immigrants from social support.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Bardella emphasized that he will fight more seriously with the Islamic ideology in France and promised that if his party wins, he will not allow Islam to undermine the values ​​of the French Republic. Bardella added that he will act seriously and quickly regarding the closure of mosques and Islamic centers that, according to his interpretation, are inclined toward extremism. He also said he would fire the imams of mosques who oppose the values ​​of the French Republic. Bardella also promised to reconsider the law granting French citizenship to those born to foreign parents.

Opinion polls show that France is on the brink of victory for radical Islamophobic parties.