The first round of the French parliamentary elections has concluded, with the far-right National Rally emerging as the frontrunner with 33.14% of the vote. The left-wing New Popular Front alliance followed closely behind with 27.99%, while Macron’s centrist Together alliance secured 20.76%.
Key candidates who won their seats outright in the first round include far-right leader Marine Le Pen, Socialist leader Olivier Faure, and prominent figures like economist Sandrine Rousseau and hard-left party member Manuel Bompard.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and former Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne both face runoffs in their respective electorates. However, in a surprising turn of events, the head of the Communist party, Fabien Roussel, was knocked out by a National Rally candidate in northern France.
President Macron’s centrist alliance and the NFP coalition have called for tactical voting in the second round to prevent the far-right National Rally from gaining a majority. The RN has expressed its desire to bring an end to Macron’s presidency and establish itself as a dominant force in the French parliament.
If the National Rally secures an absolute majority, it would be a historic first for a far-right party in France. Macron’s decision to dissolve parliament and call snap elections has led to a highly contested political landscape, with a tense run-off expected in the second round.
Overall, the first round of the French parliamentary elections has set the stage for a crucial showdown between competing political ideologies, with the future direction of the country hanging in the balance.
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Photo credit www.theguardian.com
