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Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale
Sport
Paul Myers

France football players at Euro 2024 in Germany hail election results back home

France defender Jules Koundé joined several France teammates to publicly welcome the results of the French general election. AP - Hassan Ammar

Several France players broke away from preparations for Tuesday night's Euro 2024 semi-final against Spain in Munich to hail the result of the general election back home.

“The victory of the People,” wrote midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni on X.

Striker Marcus Thuram, who expressed his concern about far-right groups after the European elections on 8 June, said: “Congratulations to all those who came forward in the face of the danger that hovered over our country.

“Long live diversity, long live the Republic, long live France. The fight continues.”

Marcus Thuram (right) has been one of the most politically outspoken members of the France football squad competing at the European championships in Germany. AP - Hassan Ammar

Defender Jules Koundé added on X: “The relief is equal to the worry of these recent weeks, it is immense.

“Congratulations to all the French people who mobilized so that this beautiful country that is France does not find itself governed by the extreme right.”

Parties from the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) – made up of the hard-left France Unbowed, the Socialist Party, the Communist Party and the Greens – combined during the second round of voting on 7 July to become the biggest group in the National Assembly.

[Slideshow] Jubilant crowds fill Place de la République in Paris after exit polls

The bloc – which was formed in haste to fight the snap elections – has no overall leader, and its parties are divided over who they could select as a suitable prime minister.

Moment

Thuram's comments emerged nearly a month after he condemned what he called the sad reality of the political situation in France.

Just after President Emmanuel Macron called the election, the France skipper Kylian Mbappé urged young people to go out and vote to prevent extremes from claiming power.

Politicians from across the political spectrum have embraced or criticised the stances of the France stars.

Rassemblement national leader Marine Le Pen hit out at Mbappé during an interview with CNN France just before the second vote.

"Kylian Mbappé is an excellent footballer," she said. "But this trend among athletes, singers or artists of telling the French how they should vote ... the French are fed up with moral lessons and voting instructions."

Should France beat Spain at the Allianz Arena, they will play either England or the Netherlands in the final on Sunday.

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