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France's football stars celebrate the defeat of the far-right
Kylian Mbappe of France celebrates after scoring a penalty kick during a Group D match between the France and Poland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, June 25, 2024

SEVERAL of France’s players are already celebrating something at the European Championship — the result of the elections back home.

A leftist coalition that came together to try to keep the far-right from power in France won the most parliamentary seats in Sunday’s run-off parliamentary election.

“The victory of the People,” France midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni wrote on Twitter.

The first-round vote on June 30 saw major gains for the National Rally, potentially putting the far-right in a position to govern France for the first time since World War II.

“Congratulations to all those who came forward in the face of the danger that hovered over our country,” France forward Marcus Thuram put on his Instagram story, after a graphic of the projected outcome.

“Long live diversity, long live the Republic, long live France. The fight continues.”

Thuram had already spoken out last month about the “sad reality” of the political situation back home, and France’s players have consistently been vocal at Euro 2024 with calls to get out to vote in parliamentary elections.

Captain Kylian Mbappe had warned that his country was in a “catastrophic” political situation.

“The relief is equal to the worry of these recent weeks, it is immense,” France defender Jules Kounde wrote on Twitter.

“Congratulations to all the French people who mobilised so that this beautiful country that is France does not find itself governed by the extreme right.”

France plays Spain in the Euro 2024 semi-finals in Munich tomorrow, hoping to reach its fourth major final in the past eight years.

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