France’s Legislative Election Fallout

France appears vastly transformed on Mondays following the first round of legislative elections held on Sundays. The initial results unveiled a nation deeply divided, witnessing a remarkable surge in far-right support and the near collapse of President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist party.

Media Reactions:

• Le Parisien: The cover of Le Parisien, a prominent daily newspaper, declared the morning after the snap election’s first phase: “The far right at power’s door.”
• Libération: In an editorial, the left-leaning Libération newspaper expressed concern over the rise of the far right: “Twelve million of our fellow citizens have voted for a far-right party that is clearly racist and anti-Republican.”

Possible Ramifications:

If the National Rally secures an absolute majority in the upcoming runoff, President Macron will be compelled to appoint a prime minister from their ranks, leading to the formation of a cabinet with significant implications.

Political Upheaval:

There was a palpable sense of shock and incredulity at the dramatic decline of President Macron’s party, which, along with its allies, previously held the most seats in the National Assembly. However, in the first round of the dual-phase election process, the centrist coalition found itself trailing in third place.

Key Figures:

• Only two of Macron’s candidates managed to secure re-election without a runoff, contrasting with 37 members of the far-right National Rally and 32 from the left-wing coalition known as the New Popular Front.

Future Scenarios:

While initial voting results may not definitively predict the distribution of parliamentary seats, the National Rally’s dominance in the first round suggests a potential shift in the National Assembly’s balance of power. The looming question remains whether they will attain adequate seats to wield an absolute majority.