The left still has a choice in constituencies such as Avignon

Avignon (France), Jul 3 (EFE) - Although a far-right majority remains the most likely scenario, a shift to the left is possible in many French constituencies in which the National Rally (RN) of Marine Le Pen triumphed in the first round, as in Avignon, a mirror of the tense election facing the country.

CAMERA: RAQUEL FERNANDEZ.

FOOTAGE OF ELECTION POSTER RECORDING IN AVIGNON AFTER THE FIRST ROUND OF ELECTIONS, PRESS CONFERENCE OF THE NEW POPULAR FRONT and TRADE UNION ACT TO DEFEND CULTURE AGAINST THE EXTREME RIGHT'S ENZANGE.

SOUNDBITES IN FRENCH BY:

- CANDIDATE OF THE NEW POPULAR FRONT, RAPHAËL ARNAULT:

Translation:

"The left will never threaten the democratic freedom of our country, the freedom of the press, the independence of justice, which the extreme right will set in motion if it comes to power and which we will defend."



MALIKA DI FRAJA, CANDIDATE OF RENAISSANCE:

Translation:

1. " It depends on the constituency. We have constituencies where our candidates came first in the first round and others where they came second or third. Here, in my constituency I came fourth, Mrs. Jaouen of the National Grouping came first, Mr. Arnault, New Popular Front, and then Mr. Philippe Pascal, New Popular Front of Vaucluse and finally me. So there you have it, it is the ballot boxes that have decided and I accept what the citizens of this constituency have decided."

2. "Beyond myself, I would say yes for the people of this constituency. Why would I say yes? Because I think they would have deserved perhaps a little more interesting duel for them. As I said yesterday, we are caught between two extremes.

It's certainly complicated for them to choose today. I'm going to make sure that no vote goes to the National Grouping. But beyond my constituency, it is about all of Vaucluse, as I am the president of Renaissance Vaucluse. In all of Vaucluse, not a single vote should go to the National Rally."

3. "In my constituency, it was complicated because, as you know, the candidate of the New Popular Front is a young man who has just arrived here, who comes from Lyon, who has this particularity. Moreover, the mayor of Avignon had dissented with Mr. Philippe Pascal, which was quite unusual in our constituency. So yes, on the night of the results, you have some impressions. And I indeed said I would not give any instructions to my constituents. However, I think in any case, I've been fighting against the National Grouping since 2002. The first time I voted against the National Rally was when I voted for Jacques Chirac against Jean-Marie Le Pen. I still defend these values, so no vote should go to the National Rally."



4. "Mr. Bardella as Prime Minister, with the program he is proposing to us with an absolute majority, if he were tempted to have this absolute majority, I don't think we would last 3 months in France, that is clear. From there, I think everyone has to be aware of what has happened. Maybe the awareness should have been there in the first round, but some people did not make that decision. So today we are faced with another choice. And as far as I am concerned, it is not to give a single vote to the National Rally."

5. "I ran a great campaign with great people. We gave it our all. I want to thank them because it was great to work with them, and I hope that the people who decided to vote for me will continue to do so. In any case, I can tell them that I will not be left behind, even if another candidate is elected."