World
European Reactions to French Legislative Elections
Explore the diverse reactions from European countries to the recent French legislative elections, shedding light on the implications for the region’s political landscape and future collaborations.
Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, shared her thoughts on the just-concluded French legislative elections, where the far-right National Rally (RN) was surpassed by a leftist coalition and President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist bloc. She emphasized that no single party emerged as a clear winner in France.
During a visit to Washington for the NATO summit, Meloni stated, “Interpreting the results as a defeat for Le Pen’s party is simplistic. None of the three coalitions in France prevailed, none can govern alone.”
Nicoletta Pirozzi, Head of the EU Programme at the Institute for International Affairs, suggested that Meloni might actually benefit from Le Pen’s defeat. Pirozzi believes this positions Meloni to play a more cooperative role within the right-wing political bloc in Europe.
Elly Schlein, leader of Italy’s Democratic Party, viewed the election results as a victory against the far right, demonstrating that it can be defeated.
Italian citizens in Rome also weighed in on the French election outcome. While opinions varied, many agreed that the results in France offer valuable lessons for Italy and emphasized the importance of voter turnout and political engagement.
- One individual expressed happiness over the outcome and cautioned against premature celebrations by right-wing parties.
- Another highlighted the impressive voter turnout in France, hoping to see a similar engagement in Italian politics.
Despite the relief felt in parts of Europe over the far right’s failure to secure a majority, France now faces the challenge of forming a new government in a fragmented parliament.