France Elections, Le Pen Soars to First Round. Macron Calls for Blockade to Stop Right –

The Rassemblement National wins the first round of parliamentary elections in France and aims for an absolute majority in the run-off next weekend. The excellent result in the European elections is confirmed by the home vote: RN – according to the first exit polls – goes beyond 33% of the consensus, preceding the left-wing axis of the New Popular Front (NFP) (which exceeds 28%) and clearly detaching Ensemble pour la République, the Macronist bloc, which came in third. Based on the results of the first round, the Elabe Institute predicts that the RN would obtain between 260 and 310 seats in the National Assembly. It might therefore potentially obtain an absolute majority, set at 289 deputies.

“Democracy has spoken” and “the Macronist bloc” has been “practically erased”, commented enthusiastically Marine Le Pen, who now asks her voters to complete the work and the undecided to join “the coalition of security, freedom and unity”, ensuring an absolute majority for RN, “so that Jordan Bardella will be, in eight days, appointed prime minister by Emmanuel Macron”. Bardella himself spoke of “a clear verdict” coming from the polls, guaranteeing that he wants to be “the prime minister of all French people, a prime minister of coexistence, respectful of the Constitution and the function of the President of the Republic but uncompromising on the policy that we will implement”. Eric Ciotti, the leader who split the Republicans following having assured his support to Bardella, also rejoiced. “This evening we see the victory to bring Jordan Bardella to Matignon”, he observed, “we can restore this country and give it a future worthy of its glorious past and its brave people”.

Macron, however, is not giving up. As soon as the outcome of the first round became clear, he called for a “democratic and republican” union once morest the RN. But the result of the bloc that supports the incumbent of the Elysée remains disappointing. “This vote has inflicted a heavy and indisputable defeat on the president,” noted Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of La France insoumise, who has joined the NFP. The game, for the left and for Macron, is being played on the individual seats up for grabs in the second round. According to an Ipsos estimate, in the first round of the French general election, between 65 and 85 deputies of the National Assembly should be elected, while in the second round there might potentially be between 285 and 315 triangular and between 150 and 170 duels. Mélenchon announced the withdrawal of his candidates where the RN came first and his party third. Socialist leader Olivier Faure did the same: “There will not be, anywhere, a candidate as long as there is a risk of electing a candidate from the far right. There will be no exceptions,” he stressed. Raphaël Glucksmann (Place Publique) recalled that “we have seven days to prevent France from falling into a catastrophe” and asked NPF to withdraw its candidates from any triangular elections if they were to come in third. “Not a single vote must go to the Rassemblement National,” warned outgoing Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, referring to the withdrawal of Macron’s Ensemble candidates in “more than sixty” constituencies.

No indication of voting, in view of the second round, will come from the Republicans. “Where we are not present in the runoff, considering that the voters are free to choose, we will not give national instructions and we will let the French express themselves in conscience,” the party wrote in a note. In short, a week of fire opens for France, also on the front of street demonstrations. The first was called by NPF in Paris immediately following the release of a vote characterized by a record turnout. Over 65%, according to Ipsos. Almost 20 points more than the 47.5% of 2022.