The far-right National Rally has made significant gains in the first round of parliamentary elections in France. Marine Le Pen’s party received roughly 34% of the vote, according to projections. This outcome has put the centrist government alliance supported by President Emmanuel Macron at risk of losing power.
In the first round, the National Rally was followed closely behind by Macron’s Together alliance with 20%, while the leftist alliance New Popular Front got approximately 29%. The final round of voting will take place on July 7, with both parties vying for 577 seats in the National Assembly.
After receiving an initial projection, Le Pen emphasized the importance of securing a majority vote in the second round. If successful, this could potentially make Jordan Bardella president and lead to a far-right government in France. Macron called for a snap election following Le Pen’s party’s success in the European parliamentary elections last year, seeking to prevent extremist or radical governments from taking over his country.
Macron highlighted the dangers of turning to extreme ideologies during a recent interview, urging voters to reject quick solutions offered by such parties. Le Pen, who has been defeated by Macron in past presidential elections but has seen her party gain significant ground recently, garnered over 41% of the vote in the last election.
If Le Pen performs well again in this year’s parliamentary elections, France could have its first far-right government since World War II, marking a significant shift in its political landscape.