PARIS: France’s far-right National Rally (RN) party holds a commanding lead in voting intentions for upcoming European Parliament elections, according to an opinion poll published on Sunday.
Voting intentions remained “very volatile,” however, said the Elabe institute, which conducted the polls for broadcaster BFMTV and weekly La Tribune Dimanche.
“One in three voters could still change their minds before the election, especially on the left.”
The poll was conducted among 1,803 people between May 29 and 31.
The extreme-right RN’s top candidate, Jordan Bardella, is credited with 32.5 percent of voting intentions in the poll,
Valerie Hayer, an ally of center-right President Emmanuel Macron, came second with 16 percent, followed by center-left Socialist candidate Raphael Glucksmann with 13.
While the standing of the main candidates was broadly unchanged from a similar poll a week ago, left-wing parties France Unbowed, the Greens and Communists made slight gains.
The right-wing opposition Les Republicains and the extreme-right Reconquete were, meanwhile, below the five percent threshold needed for representation in the European Parliament.
In France, the European Parliament elections are primarily seen as a key gauge of national politicians’ popularity.
Bardella was later on Sunday to hold a final election rally in Paris.
Around 5,500 supporters and RN party heavyweight Marine Le Pen were expected to attend.
Opinion polls show far-right parties making gains in several European Union countries in the elections on June 6-9.
French far right has big lead over Macron ally ahead of EU vote: poll
https://arab.news/wbbw5
French far right has big lead over Macron ally ahead of EU vote: poll
UK pro-Palestine campaign urges pressure on councillors ahead of elections
- They are being urged to commit to ‘upholding the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people’
- Research has revealed extensive ties between local council-administered pension funds, Israeli military
LONDON: The Palestine Solidarity Campaign on Wednesday launched a campaign urging local councillors across the UK to commit to “upholding the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.”
The Councillor Pledge for Palestine is the latest effort by the PSC to build pressure on the UK’s political system and encourage systemic change for the benefit of the Palestinian cause. It comes five months ahead of local elections.
Research conducted by the PSC has revealed extensive financial ties between local councils and the Israeli military.
Pension funds administered by councils invest more than £12.2 billion ($16.2 billion) in companies with direct complicity in Israel’s war in Gaza, which has been deemed by the International Court of Justice to plausibly constitute genocide and ethnic cleansing.
The PSC accused these companies of complicity in Israel’s “genocide, ethnic cleansing, military occupation and apartheid against Palestinians.”
Among the investments includes £450 million in BAE Systems, the British multinational that manufacturers components for the F-35 jet used by the Israeli Air Force. The Israeli F-35 variant has been used extensively throughout the Gaza war.
Councillors in the UK must “take all appropriate steps to ensure my council is not complicit in Israel’s violations of international law, including through the council divesting pensions and any other funds it administers from complicit companies,” the PSC’s pledge said.
The campaign is encouraging supporters to contact their local councillors and urge them to make the commitment.
Over the coming months, a list of councillors who have done so will be published, with the aim of building a network that supports Palestinian rights across the country.
Ben Jamal, the PSC’s director, said: “It is not just Westminster politicians who have enabled Britain’s complicity in Israel’s horrific crimes. That guilt extends to council chambers as well, with more than £12 billion of local government pension scheme funds invested in companies profiting from Israel's military occupation and system of apartheid against the Palestinian people.
“Our Councillor Pledge for Palestine gives elected representatives an opportunity to show their constituents they are on the right side of history and that they vow to end this complicity.”
More than three times as many voters support councils divesting pension funds from companies complicit in Israeli crimes than oppose it, according to polling conducted earlier this year on behalf of the PSC.
Of that figure, the ratio is six-to-one among Labour voters, seven-to-one among Liberal Democrats and 11-to-one among Greens.
An existing PSC campaign, Local Government Pension Scheme Divest, has led to 27 councils across the UK passing motions or releasing statements supporting the divestment of pension funds.
The campaign is inspired by an anti-apartheid effort launched in 1983, which at its height led to two-thirds of the British population living in areas administered by councils with anti-apartheid policies.
Nelson Mandela acknowledged the campaign’s influence when he visited the UK after his release from prison.
Jamal said: “After more than two years of Israel’s genocide — which continues to this day, despite the so-called ‘ceasefire’ — people up and down the country are demanding politicians stand up and be counted. Councillors across Britain should answer this call and pledge for Palestine today.”
