The New Popular Front (NFP), the left-wing alliance formed to counter the advance of the Rassemblement National in the second round of the French legislative elections, has won the most seats in the next National Assembly, composed of 577 deputies. According to final figures from the Ministry of the Interior, the NFP will have 182 seats.
The centrist coalition supporting President Emmanuel Macron, Ensemble, won 168 seats. Marine Le Pen’s Rassemblement National, in alliance with a part of the Republicans led by Eric Ciotti, came in third with 143 elected deputies.
According to the newspaper The worldwithin the New Popular Front, Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s La France Insoumise is the most represented party with 74 elected members, to which are added 3 “dissidents”. The Socialist Party will have 59 deputies, the Ecologists 28, the Communist Party 9 and Generations 5.
The clear victory of the left has led to enthusiastic celebrations, but the lack of an absolute majority leaves the country in a state of uncertainty. The formation of the new government will take shape in the coming days. Emmanuel Macron, for the moment, has not made official statements, while his entourage has said that “the president will make his decisions once the composition of the Assembly is structured”. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has announced that he will submit his resignation tomorrow, remaining in office to handle current affairs.
The reaction of the leaders
The reactions of the leaders of the political forces that have blocked the advance of the far right have been varied. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of France Insoumise, has ruled out the possibility of a government coalition with Macron’s centrists, saying: “The will of the people must be rigorously respected. No agreement would be acceptable. The defeat of Macron and his coalition is clearly confirmed, the president must bow and accept his defeat and ask the New Popular Front to govern.”
On the contrary, the more moderate components of the left are open to dialogue with the Macronists. Olivier Faure, the Socialist leader, declared that “a coalition is necessary”, while Raphael Glucksmann, leader of the moderate left, said: “We have stopped the right, but now we must behave like adults”.
From the center, however, there are signs of closure towards a government alliance with Mélenchon’s left. Stephan Sejournè, secretary of Ensemble, has ruled out a dialogue with La France Insoumise, while Edouard Philippe, former prime minister and leader of Horizons, has opened up to an alliance, but excluding the extreme wings, both on the right and the left.
Le Pen’s disappointment
The far right, disappointed by the result, expressed their bitterness. Jordan Bardella spoke of an “alliance of dishonor” and “Macron’s electoral deals with the far left,” while Marine Le Pen declared: “The tide is rising. This time it has not risen enough, but it continues to rise. Our victory is only postponed.”
