As French elections approach, opponents of President Emmanuel Macron criticized comments he made on Monday that a victory by the far-right National Union party, or the left-wing New Popular Front alliance, would plunge France into civil war. . France will hold the first round of elections on June 30.
The French president said during an interview on Monday that the manifesto of the National Union party, which ranks first in the polls, and the solutions it offers to deal with crime and immigration are based on "stigmatization and divisions."
He made similar criticisms of the far-left France Inflexible Party (LFI), which is part of the New People's Front coalition.
The president of the National Union (RN) party, Jordan Bardella, was asked about President Macron's comments during a show for the M6 channel.
"A president should not say such things. I want to restore security to all the French people... These are the ones who scare the French. We are one year after the riots that hit French cities hard. Every day in our country, millions of French people, especially women in our country, in public, on public transport, do not feel safe", said Mr Bardella, noting the level of criminality in the country and promising a return of authority of governance throughout the country.
The other leader of this party, Marine Le Pen, responded with a similar critical tone, while being interviewed on RTL radio.
"Not much has changed... He has done all the presidential campaigns saying "Either me, or chaos". I think the French have understood that he is chaos," said Mrs. Le Pen.
Far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon also hit back at Mr Macron during an interview on France 2 TV.
"At the moment, he is the person who has caused the civil war... Mr. Macron, I would not say that he should be silent, as I cannot tell others things that I would not want them to tell me, but maybe I could tell him to try the flavor of his words," said Mr. Melenchon.
One of President Macron's staunch allies, interior minister Gerald Darmanin said he understands the danger posed by the two rival political camps, particularly the extreme left.
"I think that in the platforms of some candidates, in particular in the Unyielding France party, there are significant problematic segments for security; for example. when they want to disarm the police and this certainly does not create the conditions for civil peace. I think many people in France would agree with me that the Inflexible France party is extremely dangerous to society and as such should be rejected. I think that there are also premises for very serious social unrest in terms of the economic consequences of the demagogic programs they present", said Minister Darmanin.
The first round of voting in France will take place on Sunday, June 30, and a second round is scheduled for July 7.