PARIS: France’s far-right National Rally (RN) won the first round of pivotal legislative elections on Sunday with the centrist alliance of President Emmanuel Macron coming in only third behind the left after the highest turnout in over four decades, estimates said.
But it remained unclear if the far-right RN party of Marine Le Penn would win an absolute majority of seats in the new National Assembly lower house in the July 7 second round and claim the post of prime minister.
The projections suggested that the RN, led by Marine Le Pen, secured 34.5 percent of the vote, positioning it ahead of the left-wing New Popular Front alliance, which garnered between 28.5 and 29.1 percent. Macron’s centrist camp trailed behind with estimates ranging from 20.5 to 21.5 percent.
The high-stakes election saw a record turnout, with participation reaching 67.5 percent according to projections, marking the highest in a regular format legislative election in France since 1981.
In response to the results, Macron called for a “broad” democratic alliance against the far-right in the upcoming second round of voting scheduled for July 7. He emphasized the significance of the election in clarifying France’s political landscape amidst rising polarization.
“These are not easy elections,” said Julien Martin, a 38-year-old architect from Bordeaux. “The results are very uncertain, and the repercussions could be serious for society.”
The surge in voter turnout underscored the gravity of the election, influenced by issues including Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine and escalating energy and food prices, factors that have bolstered support for the RN despite Macron’s efforts to curb its rise.
The two-round voting system could potentially pave the way for the far-right to gain power in France for the first time since World War II, with RN’s 28-year-old leader, Jordan Bardella, eyeing a path to form a government if the party secures an absolute majority in the National Assembly.
The prospect of a far-right victory has raised concerns about a period of political “cohabitation” with Macron, who has committed to serving his term until 2027 amidst the challenges posed by the electoral setback.
In Marseille, voter Nabil Agueni expressed his determination to participate in the election despite having skipped previous polls. “As long as we have a choice, it’s better to go and vote,” he remarked.
Reflecting on the uncertainties ahead, 79-year-old Parisian voter Nicole Cherprenet shared her apprehensions: “The future scares me.”
The left-wing New Popular Front alliance mobilized its supporters in central Paris following the election results, aiming to galvanize momentum heading into the decisive second round.
Ahead of the runoff, analysts highlighted the pivotal role of turnout in shaping the final composition of the National Assembly. Mujtaba Rahman, Europe head at Eurasia Group, underscored that higher turnout could influence strategic alliances among political factions to counter the far-right’s momentum.
Macron’s decision to call the snap vote plunged the country into political turmoil and sparked uncertainty in Europe’s second-biggest economy.
The Paris stock exchange suffered its biggest monthly decline in two years in June, dropping by 6.4 percent, according to figures released on Friday.
