French election
Highest voter turnout in France since 1981
A huge surprise in the French elections: the left-wing opposition alliance "New Popular Front" (NFP) has surprisingly won the French parliamentary elections on Sunday. The alliance led by left-wing populist Jean-Luc Mélenchon won 182 of the 589 seats in the National Assembly. Marine Le Pen's right-wing populists, who were favored after the first round of voting, only came third with 143 seats behind the presidential alliance Ensemble with 168 seats. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced his resignation.
Following the publication of initial forecasts on election night, Attal said that he would hand in his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron on Monday. Macron's centrist camp no longer has a majority in parliament. Macron can ask Attal and the government to remain in office on a temporary basis for the time being.
Macron had called the election following the convincing victory of the right-wing populist Rassemblement National (RN) in the European elections in June in order to reaffirm the government majority (250 seats to date). Apparently, he wanted to offer himself to voters as a bulwark against right-wing populism - as he did in his own election victories in 2017 and 2022.
Tactical agreements
The left-wing parties thwarted this plan by forging a joint alliance within a few days, which then came second behind the right-wing populist RN in the first round of elections on June 30. Subsequently, the left-wing alliance and the presidential camp made tactical arrangements to prevent the election of RN candidates in the run-off on Sunday.
Shock in the right-wing populist camp
Party leader Marine Le Pen spoke of a "postponed" victory for her Rassemblement National party. "The tide is rising. It hasn't risen high enough this time, but it continues to rise and therefore our victory is only postponed," she said on the TF1 television channel.
RN leader Jordan Bardella warned that France was now falling into the clutches of the radical left. Bardella had been counting on an absolute majority for his party and already saw himself as prime minister. All polls had predicted at least a relative majority for the RN in the new parliament.
The left lays claim to government
The victorious left-wing alliance immediately laid claim to government. "The New Popular Front is ready to govern", said Jean-Luc Mélenchon, former leader of the left-wing populist La France Insoumise (LFI). Socialist leader Olivier Faure explicitly spoke out against a possible "coalition" with the government camp. "The New Popular Front must take charge of this new page in our history," he said.
Despite its victory, however, the left is far from a governing majority in the new National Assembly. In addition to its 181 mandates, there are 13 seats for other left-wing candidates. The same applies to the presidential camp, which was previously supported by the conservative Republicans. These were decimated to 45 seats. Center politicians were able to win six seats, while 15 seats went to right-wing politicians. Due to the confusing majority situation, observers continue to see President Macron in a key role.
Hollande made a comeback
Former President Francois Hollande made a parliamentary comeback in the election. However, he declared himself "not a candidate" for the post of prime minister. He hinted at ambitions for a ministerial post.
Relief and disappointment
Internationally, the RN's failure to win the election was met with positive comments. "The worst has been avoided," said Nils Schmid, foreign policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group in the German Bundestag, to the Funke Mediengruppe newspapers. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz did not comment initially. "There is enthusiasm in Paris, disappointment in Moscow and relief in Kiev. In Warsaw, people are satisfied," wrote Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
SPÖ delighted with election victory
SPÖ leader Andreas Babler was delighted with the surprising victory of the left-wing alliance in France, according to a press release. "Contrary to all the polls, today has once again shown that the right can be stopped," said Babler. "I am convinced that it will also be possible to prevent a right-wing government in Austria and improve people's living conditions again with an SP-led government."
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