France’s Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has condemned an attack on government spokesperson and election candidate Prisca Thevenot and her campaign team that took place in Paris late on Wednesday.
Attal reported in a social media post that Thevenot and some of her assistants were assaulted by four individuals while putting up election posters, ahead of the second and final round of voting in the snap legislative elections, which takes place on Sunday.
“Violence and intimidation have no place in our democracy. They have no place in our republic,” he said, expressing his solidarity with the candidate and her workers. “Let us reject the climate of violence and hatred that is taking hold. I call for action, now.”
Thevenot, a member of French President Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance party, was campaigning in her constituency in Hauts-de-Seine, on the western side of Paris, when she was attacked by a group of people, according to French media reports.
While Thevenot was unharmed, one of her associates suffered a fractured jaw and required hospitalization, according to the Europe 1 radio station.
Four people have been arrested in connection with the incident, Le Parisien newspaper reported.
Jordan Bardella, who heads the far-right National Rally, voiced support for Thevenot and for Marie Dauchy, a fellow far-right candidate who on Wednesday announced the suspension of her campaign following an alleged assault.
In a social media post, Bardella said: “I express my full support to our candidate Marie Dauchy and to Prisca Thevenot, who have been assaulted. I intend to be the prime minister who will restore the authority of the state, who will considerably toughen sanctions, and I call for calm and appeasement.”
Following its impressive performance in the first round of voting in the parliamentary elections on June 30, National Rally, or RN, is now aiming for a decisive victory in the runoff, seeking to clinch an outright majority.
RN, bolstered by support from some members of the right-wing Republicans party, won the first round with 33.1 percent of the vote, followed by the New Popular Front left alliance on 28 percent, and Macron’s Ensemble coalition on 20 percent.
Despite its promising results, RN faces defeat if the leftist coalition and Macron’s party collaborate strategically. By withdrawing their third-placed candidates in key constituencies, the parties aim to thwart the far-right’s chances, reported the France 24 news network.
The left alliance has already pulled out more than 130 candidates, while the presidential camp has withdrawn more than 80 in areas where the RN stands a strong chance of victory.
