Jaipur: The first phase of elections in France held on Sunday has seen the highest voter turnout in the last 40 years. After this, it is speculated that the first right-wing government could be formed in France after the Second World War. However, Emmanuel Macron has said that he will not resign from the post of President.

In his letter published in French a week ago, he said that he will remain in office till the end of his term in 2027. It may be noted that Macron suddenly announced elections after his party’s disappointing performance in the EU elections last month. However, it was already feared that if elections were held, then right-wing leader Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) may win.

Amid these hectic poll activities, the country is set to host the Paris Olympics from July 26 and these Olympics, which are seen as apolitical and carrying a message of unity, have been drawn into the bitter campaign for France’s snap parliamentary elections, much to the dismay for the organisers. According to Le Monde, Preparations for the July 26-August 11 Games have been overshadowed by the country’s political turmoil after French President Emmanuel Macron stunned the country by calling snap elections last Sunday.

Just as the Paris 2024 organising committee was hoping to build excitement ahead of the July 26 opening ceremony, French people have instead been gripped by the spectacle of their politicians’ manoeuvring this week. The jousting led the head of the conservative Les Républicains party to lock himself in his office to hide from colleagues.

Even the Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo said recently that, “President Emmanuel Macron had risked “spoiling” the Olympics party in the French capital next month by calling snap parliamentary elections, reports Barrons.

“In an act of mistreatment of French people, the president is spoiling the party,” Hidalgo told the Ouest France newspaper of Macron’s decision to dissolve parliament on June 9.

Barrons quotes the Socialist mayor as saying, “The Olympics are “a coming-together of humanity through sport. Why undermine this beautiful moment with this election that was called in a hurry, without consulting anyone?”. Analysts and security sources have raised the risk of protests and even violence if the anti-immigration National Rally (RN) secures power on July 7 in what would be a seismic change for France.

“France is used to running elections and it will do it again, we will have a new government and a new parliament, and everyone will support the Olympic Games,” assured Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee after Macron announced snap polls in June. Radio France Internationale quoted Bach as saying, “It is a democratic process that will not disturb the Games.” “We feel the clear enthusiasm here. We see a great unity in favour of the Olympic Games in Paris.” Even the Paris Mayor said, “The city has “worked a lot, we are ready and “nothing will ruin the party”.

RFI reports, that the electoral campaign will require the attention of public services and security forces, who are already mobilised to help set up the Games. “It’s an additional burden and constraint in terms of security,” Frédéric Lauze, secretary general of the police chiefs’ union, told Franceinfo. “Polling stations and ballot boxes will need to be secured, public order assured and there might be gatherings and protests.”

It may be noted that in the midst of the transition, many issues related to the Olympics remain which include ongoing budget negotiations, transportation concerns and, most importantly security.

“If the minister and the teams change, it fundamentally disrupts the security of the Olympic Games and raises a number of problems,” Frédéric Péchenard, the vice president of the conservative Republicains in the Ile-de-France region, told Franceinfo.