DISINFO: Elections in France don't look much like democracy
SUMMARY
The parliamentary elections in France do not look much like democracy.
The second round, when some candidates can withdraw their candidacies, was apparently designed precisely to manipulate the will of voters during the first round. They are being persuaded to clear the way for the conservatives or populists to win, as they say. This does not look much like democracy.
RESPONSE
The French political system features vibrant democratic processes and generally strong protections for civil liberties and political rights, Freedom House watchdog says.
In the first round of the 2024 parliamentary election, the National Assembly/Rassemblement National came in first, by a small margin over the left bloc. In the second round, the opposite happened. A narrow competition and strong voters bases of left, right and center parties in France are evidence of a developed democracy.
In the breaks between the two rounds, pro-Kremlin media and politicians openly expressed support for the National Assembly. They also voiced hopes that the Ukraine's support during the Russia's aggression will be reduced, not considering such comments inappropriate. The National assembly itself called the Kremlin's support "a provocation". The French far right, which has been accused of having ties to the Kremlin for the past decade, has long tried, but to no avail, to disavow these ties, Radio France International notes.
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