The left-wing coalition known as France’s New Popular Front has emerged as the largest faction in the recent parliamentary elections but did not secure a majority, according to France24. The coalition, formed quickly before the elections, won fewer than 289 seats in the 577-seat National Assembly, failing to achieve an absolute majority.
Despite this, the New Popular Front has significantly altered France’s political landscape by becoming the most powerful force in the Assembly.
President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist group and Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally finished behind the left-wing coalition. The National Rally won between 138 and 145 seats, far from the majority needed.
This result has led to a fragmented and uncertain political scenario in France, with no clear candidate for prime minister.
The election outcome is a major setback for President Macron’s party, which had been expected to retain power following Macron’s unexpected decision to dissolve the National Assembly last month.
This decision was in reaction to his centrist coalition’s heavy loss in the European elections, where the far-right made substantial gains.
French politics is now in disarray, with no obvious leader to guide the government. In the initial round of the legislative elections, Macron’s party received a serious blow, securing less than 21% of the vote. The far-right National Rally (RN) achieved nearly a third of the votes, surpassing Macron’s camp.
The ruling coalition also fell behind the New Popular Front (NFP), a left-wing alliance of France Unbowed, Socialists, Greens, and Communists, which garnered 28% of the vote.
This left Macron’s party in a difficult position, squeezed between a revitalized far-right and a united left-wing front.
The National Rally’s defeat can be partially attributed to the “Front républicain” phenomenon, where voters join forces to reject far-right candidates.
After the first-round results were announced on June 30, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, founder of France Unbowed, unveiled a strategic plan by the New Popular Front to counter the far-right’s progress.
This prompt reaction highlighted the leftist coalition’s resolve to oppose the National Rally’s gains.
Mélenchon, addressing an enthusiastic crowd of supporters at Paris’s Stalingrad square, urged Macron to invite the left-wing front to form a government immediately, declaring the NFP “ready to govern.”
He stated that the coalition’s constituent parts had risen to the historic occasion, thwarting the trap set for the country and, once again, saving the Republic.
Meanwhile, Macron appears to be contemplating his options. His aides report that the president is waiting for the National Assembly to organize itself before deciding on a prime ministerial appointment.
Current Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced on Sunday night that he would offer his resignation to Macron the following morning.
