French far right accuses left of threatening "civil peace" if Le Pen wins

On August 29, the French far right accused the left of threatening civil peace if Marine Le Pen, the far-right National Rally (RN) party candidate, wins the upcoming presidential election. Le Pen, 58, remains the frontrunner in the polls with less than eight months until the vote. Jean-Luc Melenchon, the hard-left leader of France Unbowed (LFI), may have the best chance of reaching the runoff against Le Pen.

Jordan Bardella, the RN party president and her choice for prime minister, expressed concern over left-wing calls for civil disobedience if the RN comes to power. He stated that it demonstrates the left's lack of respect for democracy and the rule of law. France Unbowed parliamentary leader Mathilde Panot and Greens leader Marine Tondelier have suggested they would back civil disobedience if RN wins.

The campaign is becoming increasingly confrontational, raising concerns among investors about a potential runoff between the far right and the hard left. Bardella expressed worries about Jean-Luc Melenchon's intentions, describing him as someone who seeks to destroy institutions rather than protect them. Analysts predict a crowded field of candidates could fragment the moderate vote, potentially giving Le Pen the first far-right leadership since World War II.