2024-07-26 15:28:23
The far-right National Rally (RN) party has won the first round of France’s parliamentary elections, crushing Emmanuel Macron’s alliance.
The far-right party National Grouping (RN) won the first round of France’s parliamentary elections, crushing the centrist alliance of President Emmanuel Macron.
After obtaining 33% of the votes, RN was one step away from assuming power and becoming the first far-right party to enter the French government since World War II. However, we still have to wait for the second round, which will take place this Sunday.
The left-wing alliance, New Popular Front, came in second with 28% of the votes. While Macron’s alliance, Ensemble, came in third with 21% of the votes, exposing the president’s bad idea of dissolving the National Assembly and calling early legislative elections.
In response to these results, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said: “Tonight is not a night like any other.” He added: “The far right is on the verge of power.”
For its part, Marine Le Pen The National Rally called on voters to vote for the party in the second round of elections in order to secure an “absolute majority” in the National Assembly, which would allow the far-right party to take over as prime minister in the next government.
The keys to the triumph of the far right in France
Almost a 67% went to vote in the first roundan unusually high figure that reflects interest in a high-stakes race and a belief among voters that their vote could fundamentally alter the course of Macron’s presidency.
The election has had a powerful impact on French politics, leading to a rare unity among left-wing parties, sowing discord on the mainstream right and fragmenting Macron’s centrist coalition.
The issues that have strongly influenced this result have to do with the Anti-Semitism and economic concernsrelated to the country’s precarious financial situation and the possibility of a legislative blockage that could undermine attempts to address them.
Against this backdrop, many French voters have the feeling that the globalization is leaving them behind.
Le Pen’s party, which blames immigration for the country’s main problems, has tapped into that voter frustration and built a nationwide network of support, especially in small towns and farming communities that see Macron and the Paris political class as out of touch with citizens’ problems.
What’s next in the French elections?
Despite the historic victory for this sector, there is still a long way to go in the French parliamentary elections.
Only 76 candidates were elected for the 577 seats in the Parliament.o: 39 from the RN and its allies, 32 from the New Popular Front and only two legislators from Macron’s alliance.
The remaining seats will be determined in the second round next weekend, so a number of negotiations and political maneuvers are expected before the elections are held.
Poll projections suggest that National Grouping will have the most seats in the next National Assembly, but It is not clear whether it will win an absolute majority of 289 of the 577 seats.according to France 24.