French Left Coalition Triumphs in Elections, Surpassing Far-Right Expectations
PARIS — Following French President Emmanuel Macron’s unexpected call for snap elections last month, another surprise unfolded as the runoff vote concluded Sunday evening. Contrary to pollster predictions, the far-right National Rally party did not secure the majority of parliamentary seats; it wasn’t even close.
With voter turnout at its highest in over four decades, initial estimates suggested that the majority of seats would go to the New Popular Front, a left-wing coalition formed swiftly after Macron’s announcement of legislative elections.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the far-left France Unbowed party, addressed hundreds of supporters in northern Paris, proclaiming the results a victory for the new alliance. He emphasized that the results signified the country’s rejection of a far-right government. “Our people have clearly rejected the worst-case scenario,” he stated. “Tonight, the National Rally is far from having an absolute majority.”
Early results indicated that the New Popular Front held the most seats, although short of the absolute majority needed to govern, followed by Macron’s centrist Ensemble coalition, with the far-right National Rally in third. Final results were expected early Monday, but no party had attained an absolute majority, leaving the country’s future governance uncertain.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced his resignation shortly after the results were released Sunday evening, putting pressure on Macron to appoint someone from the leftist coalition.
With a 67.1% turnout, the highest in over 40 years, the elections highlighted a broad rejection of a far-right government. Even though the National Rally achieved its most significant gains in history, its campaign was marred by allegations of racism and antisemitism.
At the National Rally base in eastern Paris, supporters reacted with shock and disbelief as initial vote numbers were displayed on a giant screen. “I’m incredibly disappointed, but democracy has spoken,” said 19-year-old party supporter Joscelin Cousin. Stacks of celebratory champagne flutes remained mostly untouched as the crowd quickly dispersed.
Party leader Marine Le Pen was conspicuously absent, delegating the response to her protégé, 28-year-old party president Jordan Bardella, who gave a solemn speech acknowledging the underwhelming results.
“Unfortunately, alliances of dishonor tonight have deprived the French people of a policy of recovery,” Bardella said, adding that the party’s struggle for power was far from over. “More than ever, the National Rally embodies the only alternative and will stand by the French people. We don’t want power for power’s sake, but to give it back to the French people.”