Following France’s snap parliamentary elections on Sunday, the newly formed left-wing alliance, the New Popular Front (NFP), defied expectations and secured a large number of seats. This alone dealt a significant blow to the far-right National Rally (RN) party’s aspirations.
President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to call for early elections last month backfired, as his centrist Ensemble coalition finished second, while the far-right RN, led by Marine Le Pen, came in third despite polls predicting a stronger showing.
The NFP, a hastily assembled coalition of left-wing parties ranging from the far-left France Unbowed to the more moderate Socialists and Ecologists, clinched 182 seats in the 577-seat National Assembly. While short of an absolute majority, this result positions the left as the dominant force in parliament for the first time in years.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the firebrand leader of France Unbowed and a key figure in the NFP, declared the results of the French election a clear rejection of far-right politics.
“Our people have clearly rejected the worst-case scenario,” he told jubilant supporters in Paris. “Tonight, the National Rally is far from having an absolute majority.”
The French election saw an unprecedented voter turnout of 67.1%, the highest in over four decades, underlining the electorate’s engagement with the high-stakes vote. This surge in participation is widely seen as a key factor in thwarting the RN’s ambitions.
At RN headquarters, the mood was somber. Jordan Bardella, the party’s young leader, acknowledged the disappointing outcome but vowed to continue their political fight.
“More than ever, the National Rally embodies the only alternative and will stand by the French people,” he stated.
The results have thrown France into a period of political uncertainty. With no party securing an absolute majority, Macron faces the challenging prospect of leading a divided parliament. The resignation of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal further complicates the situation, as Macron may be pressured to appoint a prime minister from the NFP coalition – a rare arrangement known as “cohabitation” in French politics.
While the election results are indeed a victory for the French “cordon sanitaire” – the principle of mainstream parties uniting to block the far-right from power – they also highlight the fragmentation of the political landscape. The RN, despite falling short of expectations, still made significant gains compared to previous elections. This could indicate a persistent far-right presence in French politics.
