Supporters of French far-left opposition party La France Insoumise (France Unbowed – LFI) react after partial results in the second round of the early French parliamentary elections at Place Stalingrad in Paris, France, July 7, 2024. REUTERS/Yara Nardi
France is poised for a hung parliament following Sunday’s election, with an unexpected lead by a leftist alliance over the far right, marking a significant setback for Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN), which will be unable to form the government. Pre-election opinion polls had predicted a comfortable victory for the far right, but the left and centrist alliances collaborated by withdrawing candidates from three-way races to consolidate an anti-RN vote. Consequently, the RN is projected to finish third.
Jordan Bardella, leader of the RN, condemned the cooperation between anti-RN forces, known as the “republican front,” calling it a “disgraceful alliance” that would paralyze France. The election results indicate a parliament divided among three major groups with divergent platforms and no history of collaboration.
The election outcome is also a setback for President Emmanuel Macron, who called the snap election after his party’s poor performance in the European Parliament elections last month. The leftist alliance, comprising the hard left, the Socialists, and the Greens, is forecasted to secure between 172 and 215 of the 577 seats, according to pollsters’ projections, which are typically reliable.
The announcement of these estimates prompted celebrations at the leftist alliance’s gathering in Paris, where activists at the Greens’ headquarters expressed relief and joy. Hafsah Hachad, a 34-year-old French-Moroccan doctor and ecologist activist, described the far right’s proposed policies as “craziness.”
In contrast, the atmosphere at the RN party headquarters was somber, with party members visibly distressed. Macron’s centrist alliance, which he established for his first presidential campaign in 2017, is projected to be narrowly second with 150-180 seats, while the RN is expected to gain 115-155 seats.
A critical question remains whether the New Popular Front (NPF) alliance can reach a consensus on its future direction. Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI), dismissed the possibility of a broad coalition of diverse parties and stated that Macron has a duty to invite the leftist alliance to govern. However, the NPF falls short of the 289 seats required for an absolute majority. The constitution does not mandate Macron to ask the NPF to form a government, although it would be customary as they are the largest group in parliament.
Macron’s next steps remain unclear, with his team pondering which coalition could achieve the 289 seats necessary to govern. The first official results were anticipated later on Sunday, with votes from most constituencies expected by the end of the day or early Monday.
Voters expressed their discontent with Macron and his ruling alliance over issues such as the cost of living crisis, failing public services, immigration, and security. Although Le Pen and her party capitalized on these grievances, extending their appeal beyond traditional strongholds along the Mediterranean coast and in the northern rust belt, their gains were insufficient to secure power.
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