In the heart of France, political tensions reached a boiling point. President Emmanuel Macron, facing a surging far-right opposition, made a bold move by dissolving the National Assembly on June 9, following a devastating defeat by the National Rally in the European Parliament elections. Macron’s gamble was clear: he believed the anti-immigration party, with its controversial history, wouldn’t repeat its success on French soil.
However, as the first round of legislative elections unfolded, it became evident that Macron’s risk hadn’t paid off. Polling agencies projected the National Rally and its allies securing about one-third of the national vote, thrusting them into a commanding lead. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, alarmed by the potential rise of the far-right, warned that France was on the brink of having its first far-right government since World War II. “The extreme right is at the doors of power,” Attal declared, urging voters to unite against the National Rally in the upcoming second round.
The centrist parties backing Macron trailed in a distant third place, behind both the National Rally and a newly formed left-wing coalition. The National Rally’s leader, Marine Le Pen, stood poised to install her young protege, Jordan Bardella, as prime minister if her party secured a parliamentary majority. This would signify the culmination of her efforts to rebrand the party her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, founded—an effort to make it more palatable to mainstream voters.
As the second round of voting approached, the atmosphere was charged with uncertainty. Le Pen, addressing a jubilant crowd of supporters, called for a final push to secure a decisive legislative majority. “The French have almost wiped out the ‘Macronist’ bloc,” she proclaimed, highlighting the public’s desire for change after seven years of Macron’s leadership.
The far-right’s success was particularly notable in Pas-de-Calais, a region once known for its industrial strength. Le Pen and five other National Rally candidates won outright victories, avoiding the need for a second-round ballot. National Rally candidates led in all other districts in the region, signaling a dramatic shift in voter sentiment.
Amidst the political upheaval, France faced another contentious issue: a new immigration bill championed by Macron. The bill, which had sparked widespread protests, aimed to implement stricter immigration controls. Critics argued that it bore the hallmarks of far-right ideology, straining Macron’s coalition. The bill passed the National Assembly, but not without dissent; 27 members of Macron’s coalition voted against it, and 32 abstained. In its wake, Health Minister Aurelien Rousseau resigned in protest.
As France braced for the second round of legislative elections and the Constitutional Council’s decision on the immigration bill, the nation stood at a crossroads. The choices made in the coming days would shape the future of French politics and society, as the specter of the far-right loomed large over the land.
French voters propel far-right National Rally to strong lead in first-round legislative elections
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