The far-left New Popular Front (NPF), a leftist coalition, appears to have emerged victorious in the second round of France’s parliamentary elections on Sunday, with the right wing National Rally (RN) securing third place, initial exit polls have claimed.
Preliminary results indicate that the NPF has gained between 170 to 190 seats in the 577-seat National Assembly. President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist Ensemble bloc is anticipated to take 150 to 170 seats, placing it in the second position. The RN is expected to win between 135 to 155 seats.
The interior ministry reported a voter turnout of 67.10 percent. Higher than the first round held on June 30 and the highest since 1997. Despite the notable turnout, no party achieved an absolute majority, signaling forthcoming political uncertainty in France.
The snap election, announced by Macron on June 9, responded to significant gains by RN in the European elections that saw 373 million citizens from 27 EU countries vote for the 720-seat European Parliament. The French turnout in that poll was below 50 percent with Macron labeling the results a potential “danger” to France.
This election is considered one of the most pivotal in France since World War II, featuring a contest between RN’s anti-mass migration, law-and-order stance and the NPF, consisting of La France Insoumise, the Socialist Party, Les Écologistes, the French Communist Party, Génération.s, and Place Publique. The Ensemble coalition includes Macron’s Renaissance, Democratic Movement (MoDem), Horizons, En commun, and the Progressive Federation.
Macron has committed to remaining in office until the end of his current mandate in May 2027, although the lack of a parliamentary majority casts doubt on the extent of his governing power.
