Kylian Mbappe insists he is ‘against the extremes and those who divide’ as he urges young people to vote in France’s snap elections on the eve of Euro 2024 opener vs Austria

Kylian Mbappe has made an impassioned plea to young French citizens to vote in France’s upcoming elections on the eve of Les Bleus’ Euro 2024 opener against Austria while declaring himself ‘against extremes’.

It came after French president Emmanuel Macron, an acquaintance of Mbappe’s, made a shock announcement earlier this month that a snap parliamentary election would take place later in June after he suffered defeat in a European Union vote by Marine Le Pen’s far-right party, National Rally.

The French Football Federation (FFF) had asked media organisations to avoid posing questions to Didier Deschamp’s players over the snap election, which will take place a matter of months before the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, during Euro 2024.

The statement came a matter of hours after Marcus Thuram had urged citizens to ‘fight daily’ to stop far-right party National Rally from gaining victory in the upcoming vote.

On Sunday, Mbappe, 25, threw his support behind Thuram’s comments, insisting: ‘I am against the extremes and those who divide us. We have the opportunity to choose the future of our country. We must not hide … I am in favour of ideas that unite us.’

President Emmanuel Macron (pictured) had called the eleciton after his party lost to Marine Le Pen’s far-right party National Rally in a European Parliament vote

Mbappe (right) called on young French citizens to vote in the election stating that he was ‘against extremes’ 

‘I share Marcus’ values,’ he said during a press conference ahead of France’s Euro 2024 opener against Austria on Monday. ‘For me, he [Thuram] has not gone far. It is freedom of expression and I align myself with him.’

Speaking on the elections, Mbappe added that the upcoming vote will be a ‘crucial moment in the history of the country and an unprecedented situation.’

‘The Euros are very important in our careers, but we are citizens first and foremost and I don’t think we can be disconnected from the world around us,’ he said.

‘Today we can all see that extremists are very close to winning power and we have the opportunity to choose the future of our country.

‘That is why I call on all young people to go out and vote, to really be aware of the importance of the situation.

‘The country needs to identify with the values of diversity and tolerance. That is undeniable. I really hope we make the right decision.’

Speaking on National Rally’s recent growth in popularity, Thuram said: ‘We must go and vote we must tell everyone around the world to go vote and above all, it is necessary as a citizen whether it is you or it is me, we must fight on a daily basis so that this does not happen again.’

France are set to kickstart their Euro 2024 campaign on Monday night as they take on Austria

Mbappe also echoed team-mate Marcus Thuram’s (pictured) comments calling for young people to vote against National Rally  

Mbappe (pictured) also confirmed that he would not be able to feature at the Olympics this summer 

It has been a busy month for Mbappe, who announced he had joined Real Madrid on June 3. Due to his new commitments to the Spanish side, he revealed that he will not be representing France at this summer’s Olympic Games.

France take on Austria on Monday in Dusseldorf before they play Netherlands on June 21 and Poland on June 25.

But despite current political affairs in France, Mbappe admitted his side were focused on sealing victory against Austria on Monday.

‘We have prepared the game well, it is my responsibility not to be disconnected and to defend the colors of my country. But one thing does not prevent the other, we are great players and we have to adapt to the situation.’