At least 130 resignations are from candidates on the left, 82 from the Macronist camp, two from the traditional right and three from the RN. In Iparralde, in two constituencies (4th and 6th) there will be three candidates, since only in one, the fifth constituency, the Macronist Florence Lasserre has withdrawn.
More than 200 candidates from various parties have withdrawn from participating in the second round of the French elections on Sunday to prevent the vote from being dispersed and to avoid the far-right National Rally (RN) obtains an absolute majority.
The deadline for formalizing candidacies ended on Tuesday, and at the end of the period 218 withdrawals had been registered, which reduces to 91 the contests with three candidates in the 502 constituencies that will be decided on Sunday, as well as another two with four candidates.
The vast majority of resignations have been from candidates of Together for the Republic, the centre-right alliance of President Emmanuel Macron and the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP)in order to leave only one rival to the far-right candidate for the seat in each of these constituencies.
At least 130 resignations come from candidates on the left, 82 from the Macronist camp, two from the traditional right and three from the RN (the latter to support a better-placed like-minded candidate).
The aim of the resignations is to prevent the RN from achieving an absolute majority (289 deputies) in the second round, after the far-right party and its allies achieved a historic victory in the first round last Sunday with 33.15% of the votes.
The deadline for submitting candidacies has come after two very intense days of talks, with reproaches included, since several prominent figures from the most right-wing sector of Macronism (such as the former Prime Minister) Edouard Philippe or the head of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire) were reluctant to facilitate the victory of candidates from Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s La France Insoumise (LFI).
The leader of the French far right, Marine Le Penaccused the president of his country, Emmanuel Macron, on Tuesday of preparing “a kind of administrative coup d’état” to prevent them from having a free hand if they come to power, based on “rumors” that he is going to make dozens of last-minute appointments.
The parties that make up the New Popular Front (NFP) Left-wing parties in France have accused Macron’s party of engaging in contradictions that will end up favouring the far right in the second round of the legislative elections, after prominent candidates ignored official orders to withdraw in the so-called ‘triangulations’.
In Iparralde, triangular in two of the three constituencies
In Iparralde, barring any last-minute surprises, there will be three candidates in two constituencies (4th and 6th). In only one, the fifth district, has the Macronist Lasserre withdrawn.
Florence Lasserrethe candidate of the Ensemble coalition, will not be standing in the second round of the elections for the National Assembly, in the fifth constituency of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques. This will leave only the two options of the left and the extreme right in the Bayonne constituency.
Lasserre, who received 26% of the votes in the first roundmet all the requirements to be in the second, behind Colette Capdevielleof the New Popular Front, with 32%, and Serge Rossoof the National Rally (RN), with 27%. However, in order to avoid a victory for the far right, he has decided to withdraw, without giving a voting instruction in any case.
In the other two constituencies of Iparralde, a triangular formation has been reached for the second round. In the sixth constituency, that of the Lapurdi coast, the leftist won. Peio Dufau (29%), while Christian Devezefrom the Ensemble coalition, was second (26%). Dufau warned that if Macron’s coalition candidacy is maintained, there is a “risk” that the far-right candidate will prevail Victor Lastecouereswho came third in the first round, with 25% of the votes.
The situation is different in the fourth district, the one in the interior. There, too, the left-wing candidate won (Iñaki Etxaniz38%), while the second most voted was Sylviane Lopez (25%), from RN. The right-wing Jean Lasalleon the right, came third, with 18%.
Source: Eitb
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