The first round of the 2024 French elections has concluded with significant political upheavals, marking a potential turning point for the country's future. President Emmanuel Macron's camp suffered a severe defeat, securing only around 20% of the vote, while Marine Le Pen's Rassemblement National (RN) emerged as the leading force with 33.15% of the vote. The left-wing alliance, Nouveau Front Populaire (NFP), garnered approximately 28%.
The election results have led to a tactical withdrawal of over 200 candidates from various parties to prevent the RN from gaining an absolute majority in the National Assembly. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal emphasized that there would be no alliance with left-wing populists La France Insoumise (LFI), despite the withdrawals aimed at reducing the right-wing populists' chances.
The political landscape is further complicated by internal disagreements within Macron's camp about election strategies. Finance and Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire has called on voters not to support LFI, equating them with the RN as dangers to the nation. Meanwhile, other representatives have advocated for withdrawing candidates to support the best-placed contenders against RN candidates.
Marine Le Pen's party is not without controversy. RN candidate Florence Joubert faces legal action for alleged defamation, and another RN candidate, Daniel Grenon, is under judicial scrutiny for racist remarks. Despite these issues, Le Pen remains optimistic, preparing her ministerial team and aiming for an absolute majority in the runoff elections.
International reactions to the election results have been mixed. Spanish newspaper El País suggests that Macron still has a chance to prevent a Le Pen victory, while Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán expressed optimism about the right-wing populists' success. Former French Presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande have also participated in the elections, highlighting the high stakes involved.
The election has seen the highest voter turnout in four decades, with 59.39% of eligible voters participating. This heightened engagement reflects the critical nature of these elections, which could lead to a cohabitation government if RN wins the majority. Such a scenario would place Macron in a challenging position, potentially leading to significant shifts in both domestic and EU politics.
In a last-ditch effort to sway voters, France's most popular singer, Aya Nakamura, has called for a blockade against the extreme right. The decisive second round of the elections will take place on July 7, determining the final composition of the National Assembly and the future direction of French politics.
- Prime Minister Gabriel Attal reiterated the government's stance on the online service X, stating, "There is no alliance with the LFI and there will not be one."
- The French judiciary is investigating RN candidate Daniel Grenon for allegedly racist statements made during a debate in Burgundy.
- Former President François Hollande was briefly barred from voting due to a lack of identification but was later able to cast his vote.
- The high voter turnout in this election is a marked increase from previous years, indicating a heightened public interest in the political future of France.
