Morning Update from Paris: Key Election Results and Reactions
A left-wing coalition has secured the most seats in the French parliament after tactical voting in Sunday’s second round election thwarted Marine Le Pen’s far-right party. However, France remains in political uncertainty, as no party has achieved an absolute majority.
President Emmanuel Macron, unable to call a new election for at least another year, faces three more years of his term presiding over a tumultuous parliament amidst rising domestic and international challenges.
Election Outcomes
In a surprising turn, the New Popular Front (NFP) — an alliance of parties ranging from the far-left France Unbowed to moderate Socialists and Ecologists — secured 182 seats in the National Assembly. This makes them the largest group but still short of the 289 seats needed for an absolute majority. Macron’s centrist Ensemble alliance won 163 seats, while Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN) and its allies garnered 143 seats.
Implications of the Results
The RN’s strong performance in the first round had raised fears of France potentially electing its first far-right government since the Vichy regime of World War II. However, Sunday’s results indicated a significant push by French voters to prevent the far-right from gaining power, even at the cost of a hung parliament.
Reactions
In Paris, celebrations erupted as projected results indicated a leftist victory. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of France Unbowed, addressed a jubilant crowd near Stalingrad square, expressing that the results were a “huge relief for the overwhelming majority of people in our country.” Conversely, Jordan Bardella, the 28-year-old leader of the far-right RN, remarked that France had been plunged into “uncertainty and instability.”
Future Leadership
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, a protégé of Macron, announced his resignation on Monday morning. It is still unclear who his successor will be. The election results suggest Macron might need to appoint a figure from the left-wing coalition, an arrangement known as “cohabitation.” However, Macron’s party has indicated reluctance to collaborate with France Unbowed, labeling it as extreme and unfit to govern, akin to the RN.
Macron’s Response
In a brief statement, the Elysee stated that Macron is awaiting the complete results from all 577 constituencies before making any decisions. “As the guarantor of our institutions, the president will ensure that the sovereign choice of the French people is respected,” the statement read.
The Complex Political Landscape
Édouard Philippe, former prime minister and Macron ally, commented that the president’s decision to call a snap election had led to “great vagueness.” He noted that no political bloc in the assembly holds a majority on its own, emphasizing the need for central political forces to promote an agreement to stabilize the political situation without compromising.
