France Elections See Far-Right Increasing Influence in Power

The far-right National Rally secured a lead in the first round of critical parliamentary elections in France, potentially spelling the end of the centrist government alliance supported by President Emmanuel Macron. Marine Le Pen’s party won around 34% of the vote, with the leftist New Popular Front following at approximately 29%, and Macron’s Together alliance at 20%. The second round of voting is scheduled for July 7, with parties competing for 577 seats in the National Assembly.

After the initial results, Le Pen emphasized the importance of winning the majority vote in the second round, a move that could see National Rally president Jordan Bardella become France’s prime minister. Macron called for a snap election following the far-right’s success in the European parliamentary elections, a move considered a significant gamble due to the short three-week campaign period. He warned voters against the dangers of far-right or far-left governments, highlighting the need to avoid extremes.

Macron had previously won against Le Pen in the 2017 and 2022 French presidential elections. While Le Pen only secured 34% of the vote in the first election, she gained momentum over the years, garnering more than 41% in the latter election as dissatisfaction with Macron’s leadership grew. A strong performance by the National Rally in the second round of parliamentary elections could result in France having its first far-right government since World War II.