Unexpected Surge for Left-Wing Parties in French Legislative Elections

Support for left-wing parties surged unexpectedly in nationwide legislative elections on Sunday, pushing the nationalist, anti-immigration National Rally into third place. The electoral map depicted enduring divisions, with Paris and its suburbs voting for the left and center, while regions in the far north and south along the Mediterranean favored the far right. The country’s political landscape appeared more complex than before, with three major political blocs, each presenting vastly different visions and plans for the nation.

New Political Dynamics

• The biggest surprise on Sunday was the triumph of the New Popular Front, a coalition of left-wing parties that now constitutes the dominant force in a bloc of about 190 lawmakers, emerging as the leading political group in the lower house.
• The centrist coalition of President Emmanuel Macron, who initiated the election a month ago, secured second place with 150 seats.
• Another unexpected outcome was the third-place finish of the National Rally and its allies, which were initially anticipated to secure the majority in the 577-member National Assembly, the more influential lower house.

Strategic Voting

France’s left-wing parties and Mr. Macron’s centrist coalition strategically withdrew over 200 candidates from three-way races in districts where the far right had a chance of winning a seat. Consequently, many voters who opposed the far right opted to support alternative candidates, even if they were not their primary choice.