Emmanuel Macron has ordered the dissolution of far-right and radical Islamic groups amid fears they could push voters to support National Rally.
The French Government announced the change on Wednesday, just four days before the firrst round of the upcoming legislative elections.
Macron’s snap poll appears to have put at risk the centrist coalition that could face being outflanked on the left and the right.
HOW THE FRENCH STATE PENSION COULD DESTROY MACRON
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin ordered the shutdown of several groups accused of peddling extremist hatred.
Emmanuel Macron
REUTERS
GUD, known for violence and antisemitism, is included in the banned list.
The group is known to have members who supported Marine Le Pen in previous electoral contests.
Recent nationwide polls suggest the National Rally and its conservative allies could get 35.5 per cent of the vote in the legislative election
A new left-wing alliance obtained 29.5 per cent support and just 19.5 per cent favoured Macron’s coalition.
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Marine Le PenREUTERSVoters will head to the polls for the first round on June 30 and return on July 7 for the decisive second ballot.
The French Government previously moved to dissolve groups who it believes infringe on security and human rights.
Les Remparts is also being targeted after being accused of inciting hate, discrimination and violence toward foreigners and non-white people.
Jonas Paris, a group which claims to support France’s Muslim community, is also being dissolved after promoting violence toward non-Muslims, women and LGBT+ people.
Macron has been keen to stress the upcoming election could plunge France into a “civil war” if it pivots away from the centre ground
PA
Macron has been keen to stress the upcoming election could plunge France into a “civil war” if it pivots away from the centre ground.
National Rally’s Jordan Bardella renewed his proposal to abolish free health care for foreigners and tougher regulations around acquiring French nationality.
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, seen by many as Macron’s protege, said: “The message you are sending is that when we are dual citizens, we are half-citizens, we are not real French people.”
However, Bardella has softened some of National Rally’s key positions, including lowering the retirement age back to 62.