The far-right party, the National Rally, secured 297 of the 485 constituencies in the upcoming second round of the French National Assembly elections. This marks a significant victory for the right-wing coalition, which has been gaining momentum since President Macron called early elections.
Macron’s decision to call early elections was an attempt to regain representation in the National Assembly after facing opposition from various factions. However, it seems to have backfired as his conservative allies only managed to secure 6.57% of the votes, while the far-right party gained 33.15%. The left coalition known as the New Popular Front (NFP) secured 27.99%, making them the second largest political force in France according to provisional results released by the Ministry of Interior on Monday.
The left coalition will be present in 446 constituencies in the second round, with their candidate receiving more than 12.5% and less than 50% of the votes securing their seat. On the other hand, Macron’s block will have candidates in only 319 constituencies. If Macron fails to secure an absolute majority in this election cycle, he may face limited power when working with a center-right government led by Jordan Bardella of National Rally.
The far-right leader has said that he would prefer a minority government led by his party if they do not secure an absolute majority but are able to form a ruling coalition with other parties who share similar ideologies.
The outcome of these elections could lead to significant changes in French policy and governance, including potential cohabitation between two different political parties with different agendas.
Overall, it is clear that France’s political landscape is at a critical juncture as voters weigh their options and determine which direction they want their country to take moving forward.
