‘Republican Front’ Defeats French Far Right, Puts Le Pen’s Dream of Power on Hold

The “cordon sanitaire” against the far right is back in force in France. The left-wing New Popular Front alliance won the second round of legislative elections this Sunday and, with the help of Emmanuel Macron’s centrist bloc, which came in second, pushed the National Union into third place. Despite the relief in France and Europe, the country is bracing for a turbulent period with a blocked and unstable parliament and an uncomfortable coexistence between President Macron and the left.

According to official results, the New Popular Front, which brings together the Socialists, the Greens and the far left led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, among others, will elect 182 deputiesfar from 289 CE.

an absolute majority is needed. Macron’s centrist bloc “Ensemble” (“Together”) came in second. 168 places, followed by the National Union and Allies, in third place, with 143 deputieswhich is a far cry from the 230 to 280 projected after the first round on June 30.

The publication of the first forecasts was greeted with cries of joy and tears of relief in the election headquarters of the parties that make up the New Popular Front. In contrast, the headquarters of the National Union was deathly silent, and eyes could not hide their disbelief.

The astonishing turnaround was achieved by a “republican front” created by left-wing and center parties that withdrew more than 200 candidates across the country to facilitate the victory of the candidate who could best defeat the far right, in a repeat of the muscularity of “tactical voting” used in the last presidential election to prevent a victory for Marine Le Pen.

Faced with a left-wing victory, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced his resignation this Sunday, and President Emmanuel Macron must now task the party with forming the government that wins the most votes. This will be an executive minority with limited political options, as both the leaders of the New Popular Front and Macron’s centrist bloc reject any possible parliamentary agreement. Not to mention that the parties that make up the new left-wing coalition have their own programs and different priorities, which will make governing even more difficult.

There are still “sighs of relief” and demands to manage
Leaders of the left-wing New Popular Front alliance yesterday demanded a minority government and rejected any possibility of a parliamentary agreement with Macron’s centrist bloc. Olivier Faure, the Socialist leader, said France was “breathing a sigh of relief” after the defeat of the far right and rejected “any coalition of opposites”, referring to the centrists. Raphaël Glucksmann of Praça Pública called for dialogue between the left, saying “in the face of a divided parliament, we must behave like adults”. The leader of Unbowed France, Jean-Luc Mélenchon (far left), hailed the “seemingly impossible victory” of the New Popular Front and said President Macron “must bow” to the will of the French people and invite the left to power.

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Covenant of Dishonor
The head of the National Union (RN) list, Jordan Bardella, in his speech criticized the “shameful alliance between Macron and the far left,” which he said had created a “single party” that had denied millions of French people the government they wanted and was dragging the country into uncertainty and government instability.

“Victory Delayed”
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen has assured that the National Union’s victory is only a matter of time. “The tide is rising. It is not yet enough, but it will continue to rise and our victory has only been postponed,” he said, adding that Emmanuel Macron’s PR man’s position has become “unsustainable.”