In a stunning development that threatens to reshape French politics, the far-right National Rally (RN) party, led by Marine Le Pen, has surged ahead in the first round of parliamentary elections. The results, released on Sunday, indicate a significant shift in the French political landscape, with Le Pen’s party poised to gain the most seats in the National Assembly.
Early projections suggest that the RN could secure between 230 to 280 seats in the 577-seat lower house after the second round of voting next Sunday. This would represent a dramatic rise in power for Le Pen, who has long been a controversial figure in French politics. In contrast, President Emmanuel Macron’s Ensemble alliance has suffered a significant setback, with projections placing it in third place with between 70 and 100 seats.
The outcome of the election could lead to a hung parliament, making it difficult for any party to form a majority government. This scenario would create significant political instability and uncertainty for the next three years of Macron’s presidential term. It is possible that Macron could be forced to work with an opposition party to form a coalition government.
The high voter turnout, reaching 59.39 percent by 5:00 pm (1500 GMT), underscores the importance of these elections for the French people. This turnout was significantly higher than the first stage of the 2022 polls, indicating a strong desire for change among the electorate.
Le Pen has expressed cautious optimism about the results, emphasizing that the second round of voting will be crucial. She celebrated the party’s performance by addressing a jubilant crowd at the RN election party in the northern town of Henin Beaumont. “Democracy has spoken, and the French people have placed the National Rally and its allies in the first place – and has practically erased the Macronist bloc,” she said. However, she acknowledged that the outcome of the second round remains uncertain, and the party will need to continue campaigning to secure a majority in the National Assembly.
