World
Mbappé says France election results are ‘catastrophic’ as the far right gets closer to power
HAMBURG, Germany (AP) — France soccer captain Kylian Mbappé said the election results in his nation were “catastrophic” as it lurches closer to a first far-right government since World War II.
The National Rally gained strong results — around 33 percent of the vote nationwide — in the first round of a rushed election. The second round of the legislative elections are on Sunday, with Marine Le Pen’s party poised to potentially gain power.
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Mbappé said on Thursday that people needed to go out to vote “now, more than ever” because it was a “pressing” situation.
“We cannot let our country fall into the hands of these people,” he said through a translator.
Mbappé was speaking ahead of France’s match against Portugal in the European Championship quarterfinals in Hamburg on Friday.