France's far-right party has taken a leading position after the first round of parliamentary elections, marking a significant moment in French politics and bringing them closer to power.
Supporters of Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN), known for its anti-immigration stance, celebrated as she announced that President Macron’s coalition had nearly been wiped out. The RN secured 33.2% of the vote, while a left-wing alliance followed with 28.1%, and Macron’s alliance trailed at 21%.
RN party leader, 28-year-old Jordan Bardella, declared, “I aim to be prime minister for all the French people if they give us their votes.”
This is the first time the far-right has led in the initial round of a French parliamentary election, a development that veteran commentator Alain Duhamel described as historic. Le Pen and Bardella are aiming for an absolute majority of 289 seats in the 577-seat National Assembly, although projections suggest they might fall short in the upcoming second round of voting.
Without an absolute majority, France will face a hung parliament, preventing the RN from implementing its plans for immigration reforms, tax cuts, and increased law enforcement.
President Emmanuel Macron didn’t need to call this election, but following RN’s victory in the European elections, he considered it the “most responsible solution.” This decision now risks overturning the political landscape.
Voter turnout was the highest for a parliamentary first round since 1997, highlighting the significance of the election, which followed a brief three-week campaign.
After the first round, 39 National Rally MPs were elected, winning over half the vote, while 32 left-wing New Popular Front MPs were also elected. In Paris, hundreds of left-wing voters gathered at Place de la République, expressing their anger and shock at the RN’s success.
President Macron let his prime minister, Gabriel Attal, address the situation, though he issued a statement calling for a “broad, clearly democratic and republican alliance for the second round.” Attal made a brief, serious speech outside his residence at Hôtel Matignon, declaring, “Not a single vote must go to the National Rally. The stakes are clear - to prevent the National Rally from having an absolute majority.”
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the outspoken leader of the left-wing France Unbowed (LFI) party, which is part of the New Popular Front, remarked, “One thing is for sure: Mr. Attal won’t be prime minister any longer.”
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