Le Pen accuses hard left of inciting ‘Capitol Hill-style’ protest in France

Paris, July 10

French far-right party leader Marine Le Pen on Wednesday drew parallels between a hard-left politician’s call for a march towards the prime minister’s office and the assault on Capitol Hill by supporters of former US President Donald Trump.

The comments marked a hardening of language by Le Pen, who has framed tactical voting in Sunday’s inconclusive parliamentary ballot as an establishment plot to keep her party out of power.

The left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) unexpectedly won most seats but with no group having gained an absolute majority, France has been plunged into uncertainty, with no obvious path to a stable government.

“It’s their assault on the Capitol,” Le Pen added, in a reference to when Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, in a bid to overturn his election defeat. The hard left France Unbowed, which is part of the NFP, immediately rejected her accusation.

President Macron calls for mainstream coalition

President Emmanuel Macron today called on mainstream parties to join forces to form a solid majority in the National Assembly. “Let us place our hope in the ability of our political leaders to demonstrate sense, harmony and calm in your interest, and that of the country,” he wrote. — Reuters