Marine Le Pen criticizes football star Kylian Mbappé as France votes

Marine Le Pen on Sunday criticized football star Kylian Mbappé for his public call on French voters to prevent her far-right National Rally party from winning the second round of parliamentary elections.

"The French are tired of being lectured and advised on how to vote," the politician told the CNN broadcaster. She added: "Mbappé does not represent French people from an immigrant background, because there are many more of them who live on the minimum wage and cannot afford housing and heating than people like Mr Mbappé."

The Real Madrid player has repeatedly commented on the political situation in his home country during UEFA Euro 2024, with France set to face Spain in the semi-final in Munich on Tuesday.

"It's a dicey situation. We must not allow our country to fall into the hands of these people," said the 25-year-old. "I hope that the result will change and that people will vote for the right parties," he added.

National Rally is hoping to win an absolute majority in France's lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, after topping the first round of elections last week on 33%.

An outright victory could force French President Emmanuel Macron to appoint the National Rally's Jordan Bardella as prime minister.

Macron called the snap vote after the National Rally won European Parliament elections in June. His centrist camp came third in the first round, trailing the left-wing New Popular Front.