France is gearing up for “high drama’ run-offs with Le Pen’s eyes fixed to the right have influence
With the extreme right appearing to be poised for victory those with a left-leaning, while the middle are at a crossroads.
By Sophie Stuber
Jul 06, 2024 08:37 AM
Paris, France – France is gearing up for the next round of voting again for the second round of elections for the National Assembly.
After his party’s defeat by the far-right during the European Parliament vote the president Emmanuel Macron dissolved the parliament and ordered two rounds of snap elections.
The first time the election was held extremist right-wing National Rally (RN) party had a majority of more than 29 percent of votes.
Protests continue to take over the nation, in protesters calling for voters to turn out in the streets on Sunday to show their support for the group before known as The National Front.
In the street of Paris the previous Wednesday, thousands of people marched in Place de la Republique to the National Rally’s headquarters in the French capital.
“The mood is quite high drama and intense,” said Philippe Marliere, professor of French and European politics at University College London. “It is a time of mobilisation from all those who do not wish for National Rally to get a majority or even win an election. “
Macron’s Renaissance party garnered only 20 percent of votes in the initial election. A left-wing coalition known as”The New Popular Front” New Popular Front, scored higher in the polls, scoring 28 . The New Popular Front coalition seeks to unify the majority of voters against the nationalist and anti-immigrant RN party, led by Marine Le Pen.
Danielle Barron moved to France from the United States more than 20 years ago, the day Jacques Chirac defeated Jean-Marie Le Pen Marine’s father during an election-day run-off.
Children of Barron have been born within France Barron’s family were granted French residents in the year 2004. Barron has been a registered voter for France from the time of his birth.
“I came to France within six months of the US elections of 2002 with a sense of optimism and conviction the country was a rotten democratic system that was enshrined in institutionalised racism, and rapidly becoming a radical right-wing government. I had no idea that, 23 years on, I’d be confronted with the same concerns in my new home country,” Barron stated to Al Jazeera.
Although the results of the first election was not shocking, people from the Left are worried about not being able to compete with those who support RN.
“Mobilising those on the left and creating an alliance and seeing a huge increase of voters isn’t enough. The far-right still prevailed and it’s a little sad,” Baptiste Colin, a 29-year-old director of the theatre of Lyon was interviewed by Al Jazeera. “I am pleased to observe an increase in the Popular Front and other parties. Popular Front and parties who have unified or candidates who have resignedin order to not split the vote. “
The voter turnout in the first round was staggeringly high, with an overwhelming 68 percent turnout as compared to 47.5 percent at the 2022 elections for the parliament. Over 70 of the candidates who received the most votes were chosen in the first election. Others will be in run-offs, and the most popular candidates being the top two or three in each region.
“Confronted by the National Rally, it is time for a large, clearly democratic and republican alliance for the second round,” Macron announced in a news release after the results of the first round.
However, a lot of members of Macron’s Renaissance party don’t want to vote for Macron’s Popular Front Popular Front candidate for the second round even though Macron’s Popular Front trailing in the polls.
“Macron voters could decide the outcome of the election. They are able to stop the RN however I’m concerned that it’s already too late, and Macron voters aren’t ready to cast their vote in favor of the left. There’s still talk of comparing the left and the far right, in terms of extreme actions,” Colin declared.
If the election is run off the center might be able join the left-leaning coalition in order to keep out three-way elections that would split the votes of voters who are not registered.
“Withdrawals are necessary. If you don’t have any withdrawals, and you’re running three candidates voters don’t make their choices strategically. People tend to be loyal to their choice,” Marliere declared. “But this isn’t about supporting the opposition. It’s about taking advantage of the vote to stop from happening this National Rally. “
If you grant the power to extreme right, and aren’t sure when they’ll give them back’
Although the outcomes of the first round cannot be predicted, the result of 577 seats which are currently open, the RN will likely to gain an overwhelming large majority in the National Assembly. If that occurs this could lead to the far-right party to power for the only time ever during French history, just more than 80 years following that socialist Vichy regime formed an alliance in wartime with Nazis. Nazis.
“We are never this close to seeing a party that is based on xenophobia and racism, and links to Nazi collaborators at the time of its roots, gain the top of the list. The second vote is important as it will determine the country direction for the next few years, even if it is not for the next generation.” Rim-Sarah alouane who is the French scholars of comparative law as well as research at the University Toulouse Capitole, told Al Jazeera.
“I’m not exaggerating by saying the very foundation of our Republic is on very shaky ground,” she declared. “The extreme right’s not just a regular political party. If you grant authority to the extreme right it’s hard to tell when they’ll hand it back. “
In the event that RN receives the absolute majority Jordan Bardella, Le Pen’s allies, could become the next premier minister.
With Bardella’s support the far-right has swept most of the young people who vote. 25 % of the 18 – to 24-year-olds backed the Bardella’s RN at the start of this election, according to the most recent survey, which is more than twice the number of two years ago.
“There’s excitement surrounding the RN. Bardella is young and active on TikTok and there’s this notion that it’s fashionable to support the RN however, before that it was considered outdated,” Colin explained.
Daniel Szabo, a 48-year-old French-Hungarian English translator and professor of literature in Brittany Szabo who instructs in Brittany and Brittany. He explained that “People aren’t actually voting on behalf of the person they would like to support. They’re deciding on Bardella to be the next the prime minister, and hoping their votes will bring Bardella to a majority. But, the majority of local candidates aren’t very good. “
On the contrary, Szabo observed the far right’s influence increasing during the current election.
“Brittany has always been more open and voted less for the RN,” the senator said. the senator. “But this is the first time that the case that the RN is the top choice in a lot districts. I think it’s Macron’s obligation. Macron has been a little too confident. He’s extremely smart, but he’s been unable to perform his job well. “
It is in France the French prime minister is the one who sets the agenda for France. Bardella will be able to translate many of the RN’s strict policies into a plan.
“They’d be able to be in a position to pass virtually all kinds of legislation,” Marliere claimed.
A few of Bardella’s ideas include denying convicts access to housing for public use and removing medical treatment for people who aren’t immigrants, with the exception of emergency situations, eliminating citizenship rights automatically after the age of 18, for people that were born within France with parents that aren’t French and reducing France’s contribution to the European Union by 2 billion euros ($2.16bn).
“The RN is making all the promises people want to hear with the easy political trick to put the blame on immigrants, especially Arab immigrants,” Szabo declared.
Ondine Debre 44, who splits her time between her homes within the Loire Valley and Paris, has expressed her concerns about the condition of the nation if the RN receives anything like the majority.
“Many citizens in France were skeptical that the far right could be in the ascendancy However, we are now aware that many people don’t feel heard in the current system of politics. I’m hoping that the parties of the left and in the centre recognize this. We need a unified democratic and humanist values,” she added. “The RN is a menace to a lot of civil liberties and not just for citizens of other countries as well as for all French citizens. “
