FRANCE captain Kylian Mbappe warned on Thursday his country is in a “catastrophic” political situation as it lurches closer to a first far-right government since World War II.
The National Rally and its allies gained strong results — around 33 per cent of the vote nationwide — on Sunday in the first round of a rushed election, leaving Marine Le Pen’s party, one with a history of racism and xenophobia, poised to potentially gain power.
The second round of the legislative elections are on Sunday and Mbappe, one of the most high-profile people in France, was asked if he had a message to the nation.
While millions face poverty and public services are squeezed, France is committing billions to defence spending and weapons production, in a dangerous shift towards permanent preparation for war, says CONOR BOLLINS
NICK WRIGHT continues his series analysing the trends in European politics


