France’s left-wing alliance achieved a surprising victory in the second round of parliamentary elections, securing the most seats and marking a significant reversal of fortunes. Initially, the far-right, which had won the first round, was expected to dominate but was ultimately relegated to the third spot. President Emmanuel Macron’s party is projected to finish second, resulting in a hung parliament as no group secured a majority.
Polling agencies, which are typically accurate, indicated that the leftist alliance, comprising the hard left, Greens, and Socialists, is on track to win between 184-198 seats. However, this is still short of the 289 seats required for a majority in the 577-seat National Assembly. Macron’s centrist alliance is expected to obtain 160-169 seats, while the far-right National Rally and its allies are projected to secure 135-143 seats.
As the official results began to come in, riots erupted in Paris and other cities. Left-wing supporters gathered in Place de la Republique to celebrate their alliance’s plurality of seats. Social media videos showed police in riot gear confronting demonstrators, deploying teargas, and making several arrests. Protesters threw Molotov cocktails and set off smoke bombs, leading to clashes with riot police.
The left-wing bloc, called the Popular Front, includes France’s Socialist Party, the French Communist Party, the Ecologists, and France Unbowed. This alliance was formed to block the far-right from winning outright after the National Rally’s surprising success in the first round. The bloc has pledged to implement various measures, including scrapping Macron’s pension reform and establishing a “right to retire” at 60 years.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced his resignation effective Monday but will remain as caretaker prime minister until a new candidate is appointed. The election results are a significant setback for Macron, who called for the snap election to reassert his political dominance. Voters expressed their dissatisfaction with his handling of the cost of living crisis and failing public services, which contributed to the National Rally’s initial success.
The National Rally managed to expand its appeal beyond its traditional strongholds, distancing itself from its historic reputation for racism and antisemitism. Despite this, it fell short of securing a victory. Party leader Marine Le Pen stated that the groundwork for the future had been laid, despite the defeat.
Hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon suggested that Macron should invite the New Popular Front to govern, emphasizing that the mandate should be respected. However, he ruled out forming a coalition of various left-wing parties, leaving uncertainty over who will govern. Raphael Glucksmann from the Socialist Party urged alliance partners to engage in negotiations, stressing the need for mature discussions in a divided parliament.
Volunteers of the New Popular Front celebrated their success, reveling in the moment without immediate plans for the next steps. Many expressed disbelief at their victory over the far-right after the first-round setback. The National Rally’s leader, Jordan Bardella, blamed “unnatural political alliances” for their loss, despite opinion polls predicting their victory.
The election results precede the Paris Olympics, set to begin on July 26. France now awaits the formation of a new government capable of maintaining stability during the Games and beyond, following months of political tension.
