The first round of parliamentary elections in France has concluded, with the far-right National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, securing first place according to exit polls. The Ipsos Talon institute predicts that Le Pen’s party will win over 34% of the vote, followed by the “New Popular Front” alliance on the left with 28%, and President Macron’s “Together” camp with 20%.
Macron has called for a broad alliance of democratic and republican forces to block the far right in the second round of elections on July 7. Le Pen, on the other hand, is urging maximum support for the National Rally in order to secure an absolute majority in parliament and potentially appoint Bardella as prime minister.
The National Assembly has 577 deputies, and it is expected that after two rounds of elections, the National Rally could receive 230-280 mandates, the New Popular Front with 125-165 seats, and Together with 70-100 deputies. Macron’s decision to hold early elections followed the National Rally’s victory in the European Parliament elections, despite his move to shift towards the right to appeal to their supporters.
Historically, the National Front, and now the National Rally, has been isolated from the French political system. However, the tide seems to be turning as they gain more support. The National Rally, once associated with anti-Semitic views, has shifted its stance over the years and has shown consistent support for Israel.
In conclusion, the election results in France signal a shifting political landscape with the rise of the far-right National Rally and the need for alliances to block their path to power. The second round of elections will be crucial in determining the composition of the National Assembly and the future direction of French politics.