French football star Kylian Mbappé defended "diversity, tolerance and respect" on Sunday, June 16, calling on the French to vote ahead of parliamentary elections that are set to take place on June 30 and July 7.
"I think we're at a crucial moment in our country's history. You have to know how to balance things out and have a sense of priorities," said Mbappé when asked about the political situation in France at a press conference on the eve of the Bleus' first Euro match. "We're citizens first and foremost," stressed the French striker. "We shouldn't be disconnected from the world around us, and even less so when it concerns our country."
On Sunday, June 9, the French went to the polls to elect their representatives in the European Parliament. After huge gains for the far-right Rassemblement National, Emmanuel Macron announced he was dissolving the Assemblée Nationale, triggering parliamentary elections that will take place on June 30 and July 7. The elections could see the far-right RN leader Jordan Bardella taking Prime Minister Gabriel Attal's place in Parliament.
In light of this, Mbappé called on French people, and "especially the younger generation," to go out and vote in the Parliamentary elections. Mbappé said he wanted to defend "values of diversity, tolerance and respect." "I hope we'll still be proud to wear this jersey on July 7," he said.
Marcus Thuram was the first Bleu to take a stand against the far-right party on Saturday, in the midst of huge protests across France against the RN. He asked the French to "fight so that the RN does not go through." Mbappé said he "shares the same sentiments as Marcus. Of course I'm with him. For me, he didn't go too far," he said.