African leaders, analysts concerned over rise of far right in France

Melissa Chemam with RFI

17 June 2024 at 11:14 am·1-min read

Since the far right made new gains in the European elections in June, African leaders and commentators have been reacting to the prospect of a National Rally (RN) government in France, where the campaign for legislative elections is underway.

The potential access to power of the far right "is a major political event, which will shake up the political configuration in France, and have a considerable impact on relations between France and Africa," professor emeritus in political science at the Gaston Berger University of Saint-Louis, Senegal, Moussa Diaw told RFI.

French President Emmanuel Macron decided on 9 June to dissolve the National Assembly and hold legislative elections on 30 June and 7 July after his centrist allies experienced a drubbing against by far right in EU-wide polls.

In France, the far-right National Rally (RN) won 31.5 percent of the vote compared to 15 percent for Macron's centrist Renaissance party, according to exit polls.

Macron was not obliged to dissolve the National Assembly, Diaw says, but his decision is "an admission of failure".

The President "could have resisted differently, considered this election as a warning about his policies and tried to redress the situation", Diaw adds.

For him, the dissolution of parliament "is really confirming and accepting the breakthrough of the extreme right."

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"I don't get involved in French domestic politics," he told RFI.

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