Paris, France – Following a surprising turnout in the first round, Jordan Bardella’s Rally National (RN) managed to secure 33.2% of the votes during the abruptly announced snap election initiated by President Emmanuel Macron. The RN is now eyes set on achieving an absolute majority in the French National Assembly, which comprises 577 seats.
Opponents of the far-right faction have unified their efforts to prevent Bardella’s party from gaining the power needed to form a government. In the initial voting round, 76 deputies were elected directly by securing over half of the votes in their districts. Of these, the RN and its allies claimed 39 seats.
Facing a crucial runoff, 501 seats remain contested. In a strategic move, 217 candidates from less dominant parties withdrew from the competition, aiming to consolidate votes around stronger adversaries of the RN. This tactical retreat included 130 individuals from the left-wing New Popular Front and 81 from the centrist alliance supporting Macron.
Marine Le Pen, a leading figure in the RN, has vocally criticized these mass withdrawals, framing them as maneuvers by establishment parties to cling to power against public consent. Despite these challenges, Le Pen remains optimistic about securing a majority, contingent on a robust voter turnout.
Recent polling by Ifop however suggests that the RN might garner between 210 and 240 seats, falling short of the 289 seats required to govern independently. This projection is a downturn from earlier estimates after the first polling phase.
The prospect of an RN-led government has stirred concerns among various minority communities in France. The RN’s agenda includes prioritizing French citizens over immigrants for jobs and housing, proposing the abolition of automatic citizenship for children of foreign parents who have lived in France from ages 11 to 18, and restricting dual citizens from holding numerous sensitive positions.
One local Muslim resident, in an area that showed a 54% support rate for the RN, expressed her anxiety about the party’s increasing popularity, noting a steady rise with each election cycle.
Amidst these political dynamics, legal inquiries have begun into a so-called patriotic extremist network that allegedly targeted nearly 100 lawyers with threats after they opposed the National Rally publicly.
Simultaneously, the national fervor is amplified by the ongoing European Championships, with France’s key footballer Kylian Mbappé making a poignant call to his compatriots on the eve of France’s critical match against Portugal. Mbappé urged voters to make responsible choices, subtly alluding to the dangers of entrusting the country to extremist elements, reflecting his disapproval without direct reference following the unsettling outcome of the first election round.