Emmanuel Macron faced strong criticism Tuesday for warning that a far-right or hard-left win in France's snap polls could trigger a "civil war," with opponents calling it a strategy of fear.
France is preparing to vote Sunday in the country's most polarizing ballot in decades. Macron called the parliamentary polls after the far-right National Rally scored a runaway victory in European Parliament elections earlier this month.
The election is shaping up as a showdown between the far-right RN and the left-wing New Popular Front, which is dominated by the hard-left France Unbowed.
Macron warned Monday that the programs of the two "extremes" could spark a "civil war," accusing both the RN and France Unbowed of sowing tensions and dividing people.
Leaders of both left and right condemned his remarks.
Eric Ciotti, the leader of the conservative Republicans (LR), who sparked outrage among allies by personally agreeing an election pact with the RN, accused the French president of being irresponsible.
"This is a strategy of fear," he said, speaking on BFMTV-RMC.
RN heavyweight Marine Le Pen said Macron's argument was "weak" and showed "he thinks he's lost this election."
Fighting for survival
Patrick Kanner, head of the Socialists in the Senate, said Macron's remarks showed he was fighting for his political survival.
"We are faced with someone who no longer controls anything," he said.
Jean-Luc Melenchon, the head of France Unbowed, also criticized Macron, saying on Monday night: "He's always there to set things on fire."
The three main camps – left, far-right and center – are set for a key TV debate on Tuesday evening.
It will pit Prime Minister Gabriel Attal of Macron's centrist Renaissance party against far-right RN party leader Bardella and Manuel Bompard of the left-wing New Popular Front.
Some polls have suggested the RN could win 35-36% in the first-round vote Sunday, ahead of the left-wing alliance on 27-29.5% and Macron's centrists coming third on 19.5-22%.
A second round of voting will follow on July 7 in constituencies where no candidate takes more than 50% in the first round.