The results of the second round of voting in the French legislative elections are surprising. President Emmanuel Macron called for this snap election following a disappointing performance by his centrist coalition, Renew Europe, in the European Parliamentary elections held earlier this year.
In those European elections, right-wing and far-right parties made significant gains. The far-right Identity and Democracy (ID) group, led by France’s Marine Le Pen, secured 58 seats, an increase of nine seats compared to five years ago. In contrast, the liberal Renew Europe (RE) coalition suffered a major blow, losing 22 seats. This coalition, to which Macron belongs, represents the centrist political force in the European Parliament.
The European election results highlighted a surge in far-right sentiment across Europe, with anti-immigration rhetoric gaining traction among both older and younger voters. This shift to the right can be attributed to Europeans' frustrations with increased immigration, rising crime rates, and the cost of living across the continent.
In response to this surge, Macron dissolved the National Assembly and called for legislative elections to be held on June 30, 2024, with the second round on July 7, 2024. Macron scheduled the election only three weeks after announcing it as a strategic move to catch the far left and far right off guard, hoping that his centrist party, Ensemble, would secure a victory. In the announcement video, Macron emphasized the danger of rising nationalism, stating, "The rise of nationalists and demagogues is a danger to our nation and to France’s position in Europe and the world."
French elections are held in two phases. If a single party fails to secure 289 seats, the top contenders move to a second, final round of voting.
The main parties in this election were:
The National Rally (RN) led by Marine Le Pen (Right)
Ensemble led by Emmanuel Macron (Centrist)
New Popular Front (NFP) led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon (Left)
The first phase of the election went as many predicted and feared, with RN dominating its competitors, winning 33.14% of the vote. NFP came in second with 27.99%, and Ensemble came in third with 20.04%.
Many expected the second phase to follow a similar pattern, with RN winning and its candidate, Jordan Bardella, becoming the new Prime Minister. However, the final results were shocking.
French citizens rejected RN's anti-EU, anti-immigration, and pro-Putin stance, relegating them to third place with only 143 seats. The Ensemble alliance secured 168 seats, and in a surprising turn of events, the NPF won with 182 seats.
This hung parliament will lead to political chaos in France and certainly diminish Macron's power. However, leftists and centrists across Europe will undoubtedly breathe a sigh of relief.
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