The recent French legislative elections have seen a significant rise in support for the far-right Rassemblement National party, led by Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella. In the first round of the elections, held on June 30, the RN and its allies secured just under a third of the votes, marking historic progress for the party as they aim to conquer power for the first time. President Emmanuel Macron’s coalition ranked third with 20.8%, while the left-wing Nouveau Front Populaire alliance reached 28%.
Marine Le Pen has called on voters to give her party an ‘absolute majority’ in the Assemblée Nationale in the upcoming second round. She emphasized the need for an absolute majority to ensure Jordan Bardella can be named prime minister by Macron. The outcome of the elections will heavily depend on how Macron and the left-wing parties instruct their voters to cast their ballots in the second round.
The tradition of the ‘republican front’, where parties unite to block the far-right, has been challenged in recent years, raising questions about the political landscape in France. Macron has urged voters to come together to prevent the far-right from gaining further ground, emphasizing the importance of a democratic and republican rally. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal also called on voters to deny the far-right any support in the second round to prevent them from winning an absolute majority.
As the second round of elections approaches on July 7, the shape of the future French legislature remains uncertain. The RN’s strong showing in the European Parliament elections led Macron to call for snap polls, plunging the country into political turmoil. Despite uncertainty and political tensions, voter participation has notably increased compared to previous elections, indicating a strong will among French voters to define the country’s political direction.
The outcome of the second round will determine the composition of the new Assemblée Nationale and set the course for France’s future. With the far-right’s growing influence and the political landscape in flux, the results of the legislative elections on July 7 will be closely watched both within France and across Europe.
