French right-leaning alliance emerges victorious in the election, shocked by victory of extreme right
The number of registered voters was at a rate that was never seen previously. Surveys indicated that the left-leaning coalition New Popular Front gaining a majority of seats in the parliament, with National Rally, the extremist left National Rally in third place.
Jul 07, 2024 06:51 PM
People gather for an election night rally following an election result. French second round of the parliamentary elections in the Place de la Republique in Paris on Sunday. The photo is by Emmanuel Dunand/AFP. Getty Images hide caption
toggle caption
Emmanuel Dunand/AFP via Getty Images
Paris — After the shock that followed French president Macron’s choice to call snap elections within the last month, a surprise awaited French voters after the polls closed on Sunday night The extreme right-wing National Party (RN) did not secure all the votes in the French Parliament that pollsters had predicted. It was not even close.
With voter turnout at its highest for over 40 years, early estimates suggest that most seats will go towards the New Popular Front (NFP) an alliance of left-wingers who quickly joined following Macron declared that the elections for the legislature were planned for next year.
“The will of the people must be strictly respected,” Jean-Luc Melenchon, the left-wing leader, addressed a crowd of thousands of people in northern France of Paris on Sunday night. Melenchon declared that the outcome was a victory for the alliance that was formed recently. Melenchon said that the result demonstrated the nation’s complete refusal of a far-right-leaning president. “Our people have clearly rejected the worst case scenario,” Melenchon declared. “Tonight it is clear that we have seen that the National Rally is far from having a complete majority. “
A leader from the Left-Wing party La France Insoumise (LFI) Jean-Luc Melenchon wave to his supporters on the evening of the elections in the evening of the election on the night of elections in Paris the weekend of this. Sameer Al-Doumy/AFP via Getty Images conceal the caption
toggle caption
Sameer Al-Doumy/AFP via Getty Images
Initial results reveal the left-leaning NFP has the largest number of seats. However, it’s not able to get the majority needed for Macron’s center-right Ensemble coalition. The coalition is second place, and the ultra-right RN being second. Final results will not be announced until early Monday morning and without a party that meets the requirements of a majority and the direction of the country is in doubt.
Minister of State Gabriel Attal announced his resignation less than an hour after the results were announced at the end of Sunday’s night. Macron has been pressured to choose an alternative to succeed him within the NFP coalition.
These results that revealed the largest turnout in more than 40 years with an 67.1 percent participation rate, the highest percentage in over 40 years, suggest that there is a clear rejection of a far-right-leaning ruling government. Although the RN had achieved its greatest gains during its time however, its campaign was plagued by accusations of racism and antisemitism.
French President Emmanuel Macron, right, is a voter at an election that took place in the second round of the elections for the legislature Le Touquet-Paris-Plage district located in north France this the Sunday. Mohammed Badra/AP conceal caption
toggle caption
Mohammed Badra/AP
HTML0: The RN headquarters for the elections in the east in Paris the crowd was stunned and astonished when the first results were announced the huge screen of a TV. “I’m incredibly disappointed, but democracy has spoken,” Joscelin Cousin 19, one of the RN supporters, spoke to NPR within minutes of when the first results were announced. “I suppose people are still afraid of the false caricature image that RN has spent years working dispell,” the RN supporter said. Champagne flutes decorated with champagne for the occasion were not touched as the crowd dispersed.
The leader of the party Marine Le Pen was nowhere to be present, but instead she sent her younger son as well as party’s president Jordan Bardella to deliver an sympathetic speech to recognize the party’s weak performance. “Unfortunately, alliances of dishonor tonight have deprived the French people of a policy of recovery,” Bardella stated, and also said that the fight for power would not end. “More than ever the evidence is now evident the National Rally is the only option and is in solidarity with those who are French citizens. We don’t want power to gain it for ourselves and we wish it to be handed to those with the status of French citizens. “