Ibrahima Konate says he is “saddened” by far-right politicians who are wishing to “divide” the country as France prepares to vote in the upcoming National Assembly elections.
France will go to the polls on June 30 and July 7 after President Emmanuel Macron called a snap election in response to far-right success at the European parliamentary elections.
The 25-yea-old defender joined France captain Kylian Mbappe and other players at the European Championship in urging people to participate in an election that could see the country’s far-right nationalists take power.
“Of course what is happening in France worries me,” said Konate ahead of France’s last-16 match against Belgium. “We can’t leave power in the hands of people who want to divide people.
He added: “Diversity is France’s strength. I come from an immigrant family. Prejudice and stereotypes have to stop, we all have to be together in all circumstances.
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“I’m saddened by the ban on wearing the veil in the public space. You never hear from the people affected by these issues…You have to look beyond appearances, beyond skin colours, you have to go and meet the other person.
“You can’t make a jigsaw puzzle with just the same pieces, you need diversity, different pieces to build something solid.
“There’s always a minority who will harm the majority. My parents have (had) jobs as cleaning ladies, bin-men, with impossible working hours, and when I see that we don’t highlight these kinds of people who have given their health for France, it saddens me.
“I encourage everyone to go and vote, I know it’s a personal choice, I don’t tell people what to vote for, but we have to be together in all circumstances. Life is short, it’s beautiful and we have to enjoy it and be together and not be divisive.”
Mbappe previously appealed to France’s younger generation of voters, saying the nation was at a “crucial” moment in its history.
He said: “I don’t want to represent a country that doesn’t correspond to my values, or our values.”
France are next in action against Belgium on Monday in the round of 16.
(Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
