The recent French elections have demonstrated a significant shift in the political landscape, with the right-wing populist party, Rassemblement National (RN), securing a dominant position. Initial projections indicate that RN, led by Marine Le Pen, achieved around 34% of the vote in the first round of the parliamentary elections, putting them ahead of both the New Popular Front (NFP) and President Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance alliance.
In response to the RN's success, Macron has called for a 'broad, democratic and republican alliance' to counteract the right-wing surge. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced that approximately 60 candidates from the government camp would withdraw in the second round to prevent RN candidates from winning. This move underscores the urgency of forming a united front against the far-right.
The election results have placed Macron's government in a precarious position, as they only garnered around 21% of the vote, trailing behind the NFP's 28%. High voter turnout, nearly 70%, highlights the critical nature of this election for French citizens. The runoff elections on July 7 will be decisive in determining the final composition of the National Assembly.
In Aix-en-Provence, different strategies were adopted by the presidential majority's outgoing deputies. Anne-Laurence Petel of Renaissance chose to remain in the race, arguing that she could consolidate democratic and republican votes against the RN candidate Gérault Verny. In contrast, Modem deputy Mohamed Laqhila withdrew to avoid splitting the vote and inadvertently aiding the far-right.
Lyon's constituencies also reflect the broader national trends. In the first constituency, NFP candidate Anaïs Belouassa-Cherifi led the first round with 42.40% of the vote, followed by the presidential majority's Thomas Rudigoz. Similarly, other constituencies in Lyon saw strong performances from NFP candidates, with the RN also qualifying for the second round in some areas.
The election results suggest a potential cohabitation scenario, where the president and the prime minister come from different political camps. This outcome could lead to complex negotiations and a shift in France's political dynamics. Macron's camp, which previously held 250 deputies, now faces the challenge of governing without an absolute majority and preparing for possible opposition-led government formations.
- The RN's potential to secure an absolute majority in the National Assembly has raised concerns about France's future political direction. Marine Le Pen and RN party leader Jordan Bardella have called for their supporters to ensure an absolute majority in the upcoming runoff elections. Bardella has already positioned himself as a potential prime minister, promising to be 'open and honest' with the opposition.
- The left-wing alliance, NFP, led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, has also made strategic withdrawals in constituencies where their candidates came third, to prevent RN victories. Mélenchon emphasized the importance of not allowing any more seats to go to the far-right, urging a united front against RN.
- Former President François Hollande, running as a candidate for NFP, received 37.6% of the vote in his constituency and called on voters to prevent an absolute majority for RN. This sentiment was echoed by other parties, with calls for candidates to withdraw in three-way confrontations to support the strongest contender against RN.
- The political landscape in France is poised for significant changes, with the possibility of a coalition government or a transitional government if no clear majority emerges. The high voter turnout and the strategic maneuvers by various parties underscore the critical nature of this election and its potential impact on France's political future.
