French President Emmanuel Macron and his allies are ramping up efforts ahead of the second round of legislative elections to thwart a historic bid by the far-right National Rally (RN) party to seize control of the government. The RN, led by Marine Le Pen, secured a significant lead in the first round, leaving Macron's centrists trailing behind a left-wing coalition.
The upcoming July 7 runoff will determine whether the RN can secure an absolute majority in the new National Assembly, potentially making Le Pen's protege, Jordan Bardella, the prime minister. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, facing likely resignation, warned of the far right's imminent threat to power.
Macron, who called the snap polls following a defeat by the RN in European Parliament elections, has urged for a broad alliance against the far right in the second round. Projections suggest RN leading with 33.2-33.5% of the vote, compared to 28.1-28.5% for the left-wing alliance and 21.0-22.1% for Macron's camp.
The high voter turnout of 65% in the first round reflects the gravity of the election. A victory for RN would mark the first time a far-right party has governed France since World War II, potentially leading to political paralysis or a technocratic government.
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