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Projections Show Left-Wing Coalition Secures Majority of Seats in French Runoff Elections

July 7, 2024 TruthUSA

Centrists came in second, with the right-wing National Rally projected to take third place.

Early projections show that the left-wing New Popular Front coalition is expected to win the largest share of seats in the second round of voting for the French National Assembly.

Despite this, none of the three major contenders are set to secure an absolute majority, paving the way for potential political gridlock in France.

After the results started coming in, left-wing leader Jean-Luc Melanchon described the outcome as “a significant victory.”

Mr. Melanchon attributed the win to “a political stance that allowed us to unite the people.”

The left-wing coalition formed hastily on June 10 following the European Parliament election victory of the National Rally. It consists of most of the major left-wing parties in France.

Projections from the second round of voting, which will determine the composition of the National Assembly for the remainder of President Emmanuel Macron’s term, show that Mr. Macron’s centrist coalition is behind the left, with the National Rally expected to come in third.

After the results, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, leader of Mr. Macron’s faction in the National Assembly, announced his resignation.

Mr. Macron stated that he will “wait for the new National Assembly to organize itself” before making any decisions regarding the new government.

The National Assembly plans to convene in a full session on July 18, with Mr. Macron emphasizing the importance of respecting the “sovereign choice of the French people.”

During the first round of voting last week, Marine Le Pen’s right-wing National Rally Party appeared set to secure a majority of seats in the French parliament, leading in over half of all districts.

Following the first-round results, where the National Rally led with around 34 percent of the vote, left-wing and centrist coalitions united to counter the right, with over 200 third-place candidates from the centrist and left-wing camps withdrawing from the runoff to consolidate the anti-right vote.

Despite these efforts, projections suggest that the right will still emerge with its largest share of seats in the National Assembly.

Addressing the outcome, Jordan Bardella—Ms. Le Pen’s 28-year-old political protege who would have become prime minister if his party had won—stated that his party was “prepared to fulfill its responsibilities” as one of the three major blocs in the National Assembly.

Mr. Bardella criticized the political maneuvers that led the National Rally to fall short of expectations. A record number of candidates who qualified for the runoff decided to step aside to let an opponent challenge the National Rally candidate directly, increasing the chances of defeating them.

“We are not seeking power for its own sake,” Mr. Bardella affirmed.

He emphasized that his party’s “commitment to the genuine recovery of the country is stronger than ever. I will be there, for you, with you, until victory.”

Ms. Le Pen has previously competed against Mr. Macron in the last two French presidential elections and is currently seen as a top contender for the 2027 French presidential election.

While final results are pending, the prospect of a fragmented parliament without a clear majority raises uncertainties about the future of governance in France.

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