France Relieved as Leftist Alliance Blocks Far-Right’s Rise
By Eileen Flynn
PARIS (AP) — France heaved a collective sigh of relief Sunday after a new left-wing alliance halted the far-right’s momentum in legislative elections, dealing a setback to Marine Le Pen’s presidential ambitions.
With nearly all votes counted from Sunday’s runoff election, President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance was projected to lose its absolute majority in the National Assembly but remain the largest bloc, with 224-244 seats.
The left-wing NUPES alliance, led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, was projected to win 131-158 seats, becoming the main opposition force.
The far-right National Rally, led by Le Pen, was set to win 71-90 seats, falling short of the 150 seats it needed to form a parliamentary majority.
The results were a major setback for Le Pen, who had hoped to build on her strong showing in the presidential election in April, when she won 41% of the vote.
They were also a relief to Macron, who needs a parliamentary majority to implement his agenda, including tax cuts and pension reform.
Macron’s Challenges
Macron will now have to negotiate with other parties to pass legislation, which could be a challenge given the sharp divisions in the National Assembly.
He could seek support from The Republicans, the traditional center-right party, which is projected to win 58-80 seats.
Alternatively, he could try to form a coalition with the left-wing parties, although this would be a risky strategy given their different ideologies.
Le Pen’s Future
Le Pen’s future is now in doubt. She has repeatedly said she will not lead the National Rally into opposition, but she may be forced to step down as leader if she fails to unite the party.
The election results also raise questions about the future of the far-right in France.
Le Pen has been the face of the far-right for over a decade, but her party has never been able to translate its strong support in elections into parliamentary majorities.
The results of the legislative elections suggest that the far-right may not be able to break through this barrier anytime soon.
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