BTN News: Jordan Bardella, the young president of the National Rally (RN), is happy about the party’s win. RN is expected to get 33.5% of the votes. Bardella gave his first speech and showed he was serious. He wants to be more than just a campaign face for the far-right party.
“Next Sunday, if the French people give us the majority, I will be the prime minister for all French citizens,” Bardella said. He promised to listen to everyone and respect the opposition.
Far-Right Is Close to Power Like Never Before
The far-right has never been this close to power since World War II. Bardella wants to work with centrist President Emmanuel Macron until 2027.
Bardella’s words put a lot of pressure on voters. He asks them to choose RN. But it looks like RN might not get an absolute majority after the second round of elections on July 7.
Left-Wing Coalition is Doing Well
Polls show that the New Popular Front, a left-wing coalition, is doing well. This group includes socialists, greens, and communists. Jean-Luc Melenchon leads the coalition.
Macron’s centrist group, Together, is in third place. Macron’s position is safe as he was re-elected in 2022. But his decision to call early elections might not have worked out.
High Voter Turnout Could Make Election Results Uncertain
France’s voting system has two rounds, making things uncertain. Candidates need more than 12.5% of votes to go to the second round unless they get over 50% in the first round. This election saw a high turnout of nearly 70%. This could make the results more unpredictable. Many districts might have three candidates in the second round.
To avoid splitting the vote against the far-right, the New Popular Front and Together have agreed to step back if their candidates are in third place. This way, the other group can face the RN in a stronger position.
Macron called for a wide democratic alliance against the RN. Melenchon and his allies also promised to work together. But it is not sure if everyone will keep this promise.
Uncertainty Among Republicans on Collaborating With Far-Right
Sophie Pornschlegel, an analyst, says the future depends on the left-wing coalition and the Republicans. The Republican party is not sure if they should work with the RN. Eric Ciotti, the Republican leader, wants to team up with the far-right. But many in his party do not agree.
Some centrist voters might find it hard to support a coalition led by Melenchon if Macron’s group steps back.
French Parliament Might Be Hard to Manage
Pornschlegel says it is hard to predict the new National Assembly. It depends on whether an anti-far-right coalition stays strong. Mujtaba Rahman from Eurasia Group says the new assembly will be noisy and hard to manage. The far-right might struggle to get a majority. But the assembly will still be chaotic.
Macron has the power to choose the next prime minister. But France might face political gridlock. Macron might call for early presidential elections if things get too difficult to manage.
