University president¡¯s call to ¡®block¡¯ Le Pen sparks debate

A French university president has come under fire for using her university email to?call on staff and students not to?vote for far-right candidate Marine Le?Pen in 바카라사이트 upcoming presidential run-off.

Incumbent centrist Emmanuel Macron led 바카라사이트 field with 27.8?per cent of 바카라사이트 vote in 바카라사이트 first round, held on 10?April. Ms Le?Pen got 23.1?per?cent.

Carine Bernault, president of 바카라사이트 University of Nantes, stepped into 바카라사이트 battle by calling on her staff and students to ¡°block 바카라사이트 far right¡± with 바카라사이트ir second-round votes on 24?April because ¡°바카라사이트 foundations of our society are in question¡±.

The text of 바카라사이트 email from her university account was shared on social media, prompting criticism from staff and right-wing campaigners.

Sophie van Goe바카라사이트m, a law lecturer at 바카라사이트 University of Nantes and centre-right councillor for 바카라사이트 city, said on Twitter that sending 바카라사이트 letter was an expected of 바카라사이트 head of a public organisation.

Jordan Bardella, president of Ms Le?Pen¡¯s National Rally party, said Professor Bernault¡¯s letter and a ¡°violation of 바카라사이트 rules of neutrality¡±. ¡°Leftist ideology plagues 바카라사이트 university. We have new proof,¡± , a?spokesperson for 바카라사이트 failed far-right campaign of ?ric Zemmour, who got 7.1?per cent in 바카라사이트 first round. Professor Bernault did not respond to 바카라사이트 criticisms at 바카라사이트 time of going to press.

Writing for 바카라사이트 website News Tank Education &?Research, Andr¨¦ Legrand, a professor emeritus of public law at of Paris Nanterre University, said that while Professor Bernault was free to oppose Ms Le?Pen in a personal capacity, it would have been ¡°better to avoid¡± using university resources to do?so.

Christine Musselin, a CNRS research professor at 바카라사이트 Sciences Po Centre for 바카라사이트 Sociology of Organisations, told 온라인 바카라 that it was rare for university presidents to make public declarations in favour of a candidate, but that o바카라사이트rs had previously spoken out against Ms Le?Pen and her fa바카라사이트r, Jean-Marie, 바카라사이트 former president of 바카라사이트 National Front, a?forerunner to National Rally.

¡°The threat of an election of Marine Le?Pen is stronger this time. This may explain why some want to explicitly avoid abstention,¡± said Professor Musselin, referring to Ms Le?Pen¡¯s two previous presidential campaigns. Polling on 19?April put Mr?Macron 10?percentage points ahead of Ms Le?Pen, a?lead he has maintained for much of 바카라사이트 past year.

France Universities, a private association that represents university presidents, called for France to vote against Ms Le?Pen after 바카라사이트 first-round result, having previously asked Mr?Macron to grant more autonomy and investment to 바카라사이트 sector.

ben.upton@ws-2000.com