Marie Le Pen’s far-right National Unity party has emerged as the winner of the first round of French parliamentary elections, based on exit polls. The National Unity party obtained approximately 34 percent of the votes, surpassing its left- and center-right rivals, including President Emmanuel Macron’s United bloc with 20.5-23 percent of the vote and the left-wing New People’s Front with about 29 percent. A significant voter turnout of nearly 60 percent was recorded, a notable increase from the 39.42 percent turnout two years ago. The final election outcome will be determined by the strategic alliances formed by parties in each of France’s 577 constituencies during the second round.
In anticipation of the summary of the results of the European Parliament elections on June 9, President Emmanuel Macron announced the dissolution of the parliament and the initiation of extraordinary elections. This political development comes amidst growing support for right-wing parties in France, as demonstrated by the National Unity party’s strong performance in the first round of parliamentary elections. The upcoming second round is expected to be closely contested, with political parties vying for support from voters across the political spectrum. The outcome of these elections will undoubtedly shape the future trajectory of French politics and governance.