Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally, celebrated a remarkable victory in the initial round of voting for the French National Assembly, indicating a significant shift towards nationalist and anti-immigrant politics. The final results from the Interior Ministry are anticipated to be disclosed today.
Preliminary pollster projections indicate that the far-right National Rally party is expected to secure approximately 34% of the vote, surpassing a coalition of left-wing parties projected to receive about 29% of the vote. President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist Renaissance party and its allies are currently in third place with around 22%.
Notably, voter turnout reached a high of about 67%, a substantial increase from 47.5% in the first round of the previous parliamentary election in 2022. The election process involves two rounds, with a runoff scheduled for the upcoming Sunday between the leading parties in each constituency. The National Rally is now on track to become the dominant force in the lower house, although not necessarily with an absolute majority.
What’s Next:
If a new majority of lawmakers opposed to Macron emerges, he may be compelled to appoint a political rival as prime minister. In the absence of a clear majority, France could face an extended period of political uncertainty. Here are key takeaways from the latest developments in the polls.
Analysis:
Both France and the U.S. are confronting nationalist movements that have the potential to disrupt their international commitments and lead to unprecedented global consequences, as highlighted by Roger Cohen, our Paris bureau chief.
