Macron Faces Setback in French Elections
The first round of the French parliamentary elections has resulted in a significant defeat for President Emmanuel Macron. His party, Ensemble, only managed to secure around 20% of the votes, falling behind Marine Le Pen's Rassemblement National (RN) and the left-wing alliance Nouveau Front Populaire (NFP). The RN emerged as the strongest force with 33.15% of the vote, while the NFP garnered 27.99%. This outcome has put Macron's political future in jeopardy and raised concerns about a possible shift in the political landscape of France.
Tactical Withdrawals and Legal Actions
In an effort to prevent the RN from gaining an absolute majority, over 200 candidates from various parties have withdrawn from the race. This tactical move aims to consolidate votes against the right-wing populists. Additionally, the election has seen legal disputes, with Christelle Druillole of the NFP filing a complaint against RN candidate Florence Joubert for insult and defamation. The judiciary is also investigating allegedly racist remarks made by another RN candidate, Daniel Grenon.
International Reactions and Future Prospects
The international community is closely watching the developments in France. Spanish newspaper El País noted that the final outcome is still uncertain, suggesting that Marine Le Pen's victory could still be prevented. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been in constant communication with Macron, expressing concern over the 'depressing' situation. As the second round of elections approaches, prominent figures like France's best-selling singer Aya Nakamura have called for a blockade of the extreme right to prevent further political instability.
- Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has reiterated that there will be no alliance with the left-wing populists, La France Insoumise (LFI). This stance was echoed by Macron, who stated that governing with LFI is 'completely out of the question.'
- In a surprising move, Les Républicains (LR) MEP Nadine Morano announced that she would vote for socialist candidate Dominique Potier to prevent the election of an anti-Semitic candidate from the National Rally (RN). This decision highlights the complex political dynamics and the lengths to which some politicians are willing to go to prevent the rise of extremism.
- The second round of the French parliamentary elections is scheduled for July 7. With 577 seats in the National Assembly up for grabs, the outcome will determine the future political landscape of France. The RN needs 289 seats for an absolute majority, a goal that seems within reach given their strong performance in the first round.
