Is France facing civil war? President Emmanuel Macron is claiming no less just a week before the first round of parliamentary elections. Both the National Rally (RN) and the left-wing party La France insoumise (LFI) will lead to chaos, Macron said Monday on the „Generation Do It Yourself” radio program. He warned against „the political programs of both parties.”

On the one hand, the National Front divides society on security issues by assigning people either religion or origin. On the other hand, the “Proud France” movement spreads “a form of sectarianism.” Macron said both lead to “civil war.”

Macron is facing criticism from his camp

The head of state’s statements were criticized from both the left and the right. Outgoing National Rally Party MP Edwige Diaz criticized the “irresponsible statements”: “Emmanuel Macron is ready to say any nonsense, spread fake news, and try to save what he can from his camp. His comments show how nervous he is and that he is losing his balance.”

Jean-Luc Mélenchon of La France insoumise accused Macron of „always there to incite.” Communist Ian Brusatte accused the president of being the one who has been causing chaos in the country for seven years: “I remind you that the yellow vests appeared in the first five years of Emmanuel Macron’s term in office. Today we have a country in ruins, with growing inequality. “This is the result of Emmanuel Macron’s policies.”

Even within his camp, Macron faces criticism. A former Macron minister, who requested to remain anonymous, told the press: “It is unbearable.” „I don’t understand him anymore.” As one outgoing member of the ruling party complained: “Macron is exaggerating, and we are losing our political compass.”

Security expert: „Anything is possible in France”

It looks completely different Well-known security expert Alan Power. He told RMC on Tuesday that there was “in fact a risk of civil war.” There was an enormous amount of anger building up in France, which had “intensified over the past thirty years due to the estrangement between the people and the politicians.”

In two weeks, exactly a year after the unrest following the death of teenager Nahil, violent clashes are expected to occur again – especially if the National Front wins the election. “There have been unrest in France for a thousand years. But right now it is escalating, there are more and more riots on TikTok. They start very quickly and stop quickly. You go from rioting to looting and then you move on,” said Bauer. Since „A few years later I realized that anything is possible in France.”

But Power primarily blames Macron himself for the chaos, saying of the president: “For the first time I see an arsonist surprised that there is a fire.” This actually sparked a civil war in New Caledonia.

In response to the resounding defeat of the Ennahdha Party in the European elections, Macron dissolved the National Assembly and announced new elections for the French House of Representatives in two rounds on June 30 and July 7. In the latest opinion polls, the National Front is leading with 35 percent, followed by the green left electoral alliance, the New Popular Front, with just under 30 percent. The government camp lags behind by about 18 percent.

The Kenyan government plans to increase some taxes. Thousands of people protested in the capital, and some of them stormed the parliament grounds. The situation is currently unclear, and it appears that there are dead and wounded.

During the debate on controversial tax increases, demonstrators stormed the parliament grounds in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. Images broadcast on Kenyan television showed several hundred people overcoming police barricades.

ARD correspondent Thelko Glasgen Reports from Nairobi of a “very confusing” situation. The police acted brutally and opened fire on the demonstrators. According to the human rights organization Kenya Human Rights Commission, at least one person was killed. Reuters reported, citing a paramedic, that at least ten were killed and about 50 wounded. This has not been confirmed yet.

Fire in Parliament and City Hall

Protesters set fire to parts of Parliament and Nairobi City Hall, Glasgen reported. Television footage showed broken windows and damage to the parliament building. The deputies are said to have fled.

Chanting, „Ruto must go,” the demonstrators, most of whom were young, demanded the resignation of President William Ruto and effective public administration. The country’s internet service was also widely disrupted during the protests, NetBlocks said, citing real-time network data. Demonstrations and clashes also took place in several other places in the East African country.

higher Cost of living He is afraid

However, Parliament approved the Finance Law. At the time of the raid, the third reading of the controversial tax law was taking place in Parliament. Two-thirds of the representatives voted in favor of it. The law will now be presented to President Ruto for his signature.

Many people fear that the law will increase the cost of living. Among other things, an environmental tax is planned that will increase the prices of hygiene products for women and children. The government has already made some concessions, promising to cancel new taxes on bread, cooking oil, car ownership and financial transactions. But the demonstrators are demanding the complete repeal of the law.

Two people were killed in the last protests

There have already been protests in the past few days in which two people were killed. Civil society groups said members of protest groups who were moved from their homes and workplaces before Tuesday’s demonstrations were missing. Speaker of Parliament Musa Wetangula ordered the Inspector-General of Police to provide information about the people the opposition said were abducted by the police.

Kenyan President William Ruto is not particularly popular among young Kenyans. But the new taxes have also angered many of Ruto’s former voters. Due to rising inflation in the East African country, the already small middle class has shrunk again. Many in Kenya still live in poverty.