Critics of right-wing National Rally party have issued a warning ahead of the second round of voting in the parliamentary elections on Sunday. They say Marine Le Pen's party hasn't moved far from its racist roots, despite recent efforts to appear more mainstream.

Paris

French President Emmanuel Macron calls a snap election following a bruising loss to the far-right in a European Parliament ballot.

France snap election

France's National Rally party faces scrutiny as critics raise concerns ahead of the second round of parliamentary elections. Skeptics argue Marine Le Pen's party has not distanced itself sufficiently from its past, marked by allegations of racism, despite efforts to present a more mainstream image.

In 1995, Brahim Boram, a Moroccan man, was pushed into the River Seine by far-right supporters during a May Day rally, leading to his death. This event occurred on the fringes of a rally for the National Front Party, founded by Marine Le Pen’s father. Now renamed the National Rally, critics warn that the party's history of racism remains intact.

Opponents of the National Rally argue that the party continues to pose a risk to France’s values by potentially fostering division within society. Activists are making efforts to mobilize voters in Paris suburbs, where they claim politicians have neglected the community's needs, particularly in areas like education, healthcare, and discrimination.

The party also faces criticism over its stance on immigration, which some believe will negatively impact sectors like restaurants, construction, hospitals, and education. A local restaurant owner emphasizes the importance of immigrant workers for economic growth, warning against restrictive immigration policies.

Each year, Saeed Boram commemorates his father's death, reflecting on the continuing danger of far-right violence in France. Concerns linger that the National Rally's potential rise to power could escalate societal tensions further.



France election: Critics warn of national rally's 'racist roots'

Saeed Boram was nine years old when his Moroccan father, Brahim, drowned in Paris' River Seine after being pushed into its waters by a group of far-right supporters in 1995. It's very painful for me. I've grieved. I don't hate anyone. Justice was served. But there's still so much hate out there. Thousands joined anti-racism protests in the city after Brahim's death. The attack itself had taken place on the fringes of a May Day rally for the far-right National Front Party, founded by Marine Le Pen's father. The party is now called the National Rally and could be about to take power in France for the first time. People don't realise the gravity of the situation. It scares me for the country, for my children. Since Marine Le Pen took over her father's party in 2011, she's trying to publicly distance it from its past. She's given it a new look and a more mainstream image. But those that fear the far-right resurgence say the new look isn't fooling anyone. These activists say the National Rally's a danger, a racist party that will undermine France's values by dividing its society. They're trying to mobilise people to vote in this housing estate in a Paris suburb, a difficult task in a place where people say politicians don't care about them. Things are getting worse in some places, education, health care, discrimination. Here in the Paris region, there's so much wealth, but it's not being shared. Real issues are being overshadowed by an obsessive Islamophobic narrative. There are also concerns about what the far-right could do to France's economy. The party wants to restrict immigration, but this restaurant owner says immigrant workers are essential for the country's growth. If the rules to regulate migrant workers are tightened, we'll have problems with recruitment. Immigration is a topic, sure, but economic migration is essential in restaurants, construction, hospitals, education, in all sectors. Each year, Saeed returns to where his father was killed for an official commemoration. Brahim's become a symbol in France of the deadly danger of far-right violence. Violence that some fear lies just beneath the surface in an election that could take France into uncharted waters. Natasha Butler, Al Jazeera, Paris.

Donald Trump's Republican Party convened on Monday (July 15) hoping to chart his return to the White House after he survived an assassination attempt that prompted him and President Joe Biden to call for national unity and calm.

Milwaukee

Republican National Convention

Republicans begin convention in shadow of assassination attempt

After months of speculation, former President Donald Trump says U.S. Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio will be his running mate. Trump's selection for the vice president spot on his ticket comes on the first day of the Republican National Convention.

U.S. Presidential Election

Trump announces Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate

Chinese authorities said the country's economy had expanded by just 4.7 percent in the second quarter, some of its slowest progress in years and a sign that official efforts to revive growth were not working. The grim data came the same day as top Communist Party officials sat down for a closed-door conclave.

Beijing

China economy slumps as top party officials meet

Former U.S. president Donald Trump arrives in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention a day after an assassination attempt at a campaign rally that killed a bystander. The US Secret Service insists it will be safe.

Trump arrives in Milwaukee for Republican National Convention

Donald Trump was shot in the ear during an assassination attempt at his Pennsylvania rally. The FBI says Thomas Matthew Crooks, the suspect in the Trump rally shooting, acted alone. The question now is how a 20-year-old man with an AR-15-style rifle got close enough to shoot at Trump.

Butler

Questions raised on motive, security lapses during Trump shooting

Spain won its first European Championship since 2012 with a 2-1 victory over England, disappointing fans who’d had high hopes for the soccer squad.

Madrid

Spain beats England for Euro 2024 championship

U.S. President Joe Biden says he had a short but good conversation with Trump following the incident. He's also asked for an independent review of what happened at Trump's rally and will share the findings.

Washington

Biden: No assumptions should be made about shooter’s motive

Leaders from around the world, allies and rivals alike, were quick to condemn the assassination attempt on former U.S. president Donald Trump at his campaign rally on Saturday.

London

World leaders react to assassination attempt on Trump

The Israeli military said that Rafa Salama, Hamas' Khan Younis brigade commander, was killed in an air strike that also targeted the head of the group's armed wing, Mohammed Deif. The military said Salama was one of Deif's closest associates and was involved in planning Hamas' Oct. 7 attack.

Jerusalem

Israel-Gaza War

Hamas Khan Younis brigade commander killed in Gaza

The US Secret Service is investigating how a gunman armed with an AR-style rifle was able to get close enough to shoot and injure former President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania, a monumental failure of one of the agency’s core duties.

Pennsylvania

US Secret Service investigates 'lapse in security' at Trump rally

Spain and England will meet in the European Championship final, with much of the focus on a teenage wonderkid and whether one of the world's most underachieving teams can end its decades-long wait for a title.

Berlin

Spain to meet England in Euros 2024 championship final

Republicans and Former President Donald Trump’s supporters have started to point fingers after Trump's attempted assassination at a Pennsylvania rally.

Blame game begins after Trump shooting

More than 90 people are dead and hundreds more injured after the latest Israeli strike in Gaza. The Israeli Defense Forces claims it was targeting high-profile Hamas officials when it bombed a civilian camp filled with displaced Palestinians.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Gaza death toll rises in Israeli Defense Forces' latest attack

The FBI has identified 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks as the 'subject involved,' in the attempted assassination of Donald Trump. The gunman was shot at the scene. Investigators are saying the motive is unclear.

FBI identifies gunman as Thomas Matthew Crooks

Former United States President Donald Trump has been shot in the ear during a campaign rally. The shooter was shot dead by Secret Service officers, two other people in the crowd were critically injured.

Trump shot in assassination attempt

U.S. President Joe Biden has taken his election campaign to the battleground state of Michigan. There are growing calls for him to step aside and let another Democrat run in November. The state’s Democratic governor and senator were both notably absent.

Michigan

Biden rallies supporters in battleground states

An Israeli airstrike has killed at least 70 Palestinians in a designated humanitarian zone of Al-Mawasi in Khan Younis, Gaza's health ministry said. Israel said its attack targeted Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif, the alleged mastermind of the October 7 attacks.

Rafah

Israeli strike targets Hamas military chief, dozens killed

The Kremlin has accused Australia of fuelling anti-Russian paranoia after a couple were charged for espionage. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has hit back telling Russia to stop meddling in Australia's affairs. It follows the arrest of Australian Defence Force member Kira Korolev and her husband Ivan on spying allegations.

Canberra

War of words between Kremlin and Australian PM

Manslaughter charges against actor Alec Baldwin have been dropped after his lawyers alleged police hid evidence of the source of the live round that killed Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021.

Santa Fe

Alec Baldwin shooting case dismissed by judge

Finland's parliament has narrowly passed controversial legislation that will allow border guards to turn away migrants trying to cross from Russia. Human rights critics call the move a breach of international laws.

Läykänkuja

Finland passes law banning migrants crossing from Russia

An energetic U.S. President Joe Biden gave a speech to supporters in Michigan and vowed to stay in the presidential race as more Democrats called for him to step aside.

Detroit

Biden rally chants 'don't you quit'

At least four people have died while attempting to cross the English Channel from France to Britain, according to the French coastguard. French coastguard says 63 people were rescued and returned to Boulogne-sur-Mer after trying to sail to Britain.

Boulogne-sur-Mer

Four people die in attempt to cross English Channel

SpaceX's workhorse Falcon 9 rocket was grounded by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Friday after one broke apart in space and doomed its payload of Starlink satellites, the first failure in more than seven years of a rocket relied upon by the global space industry.

Vandenberg Space Force Base

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket grounded after orbital failure

Hundreds of rescuers and more than two dozen divers in Nepal have suspended their search for 51 passengers who are missing after a landslide swept the buses in which they were travelling, into a swollen river, authorities said.

Chitawan

Rescue efforts suspended after Nepal landslide

U.S. intelligence discovered that Russia planned to assassinate the chief executive of German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall, which has been producing artillery shells and military vehicles for Ukraine, CNN and the New York Times reported on Thursday (July 11).

Moscow

Ukraine Invasion

Reports: Russia tried to kill CEO of Rheinmetall

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told NATO allies on Thursday (July 11) they needed to lift all restrictions on his country conducting long-range strikes on targets inside Russia, if they want Kyiv to win the war against Moscow.

NATO summit

Zelenskiy asks allies to drop limits on strikes in Russia

The devastated relatives of Sutherland Shire family are demanding answers after they were brutally murdered in the Philippines. The bodies of David Fisk, Lucita Cortez and her daughter-in-law were found inside their hotel room.

Cebu City

Sydney family 'brutally murdered' in luxury Philippines hotel

Russian-born Australian army private Kira Korolev and her husband Igor Korolev have been charged with obtaining sensitive Defence Force material for Kremlin intelligence. The espionage charges carry sentences of 15 years if found guilty.

Brisbane

ADF soldier and husband charged with espionage

The Pentagon has declared its intention to dismantle its Gaza coast pier, originally built to deliver aid to the strip, amidst ongoing controversy surrounding its existence.

U.S. built aid pier scrapped as parts of Gaza starve

Joe Biden faced a barrage of reporters’ questions about his age and fitness to run for president at a post-NATO news conference in Washington. Biden, who at times stumbled and mixed up world leaders’ names, insisted he is still the best person to beat Donald Trump.

SEE THE FULL STORY