In a dramatic turn of events, after all the opinion polls had projected a victory for the National Rally (Far-Right), violence erupted across France as vote counting trends suggested a surprising lead for a left-wing coalition in the snap election. The news dealt a blow to Marine Le Pen's ambitions for a hard-right government, igniting widespread unrest.
What Happened In The Elections?
The parliamentary election results of France have quite unexpectedly given the most number of seats to the New Popular Front (NFP) – a coalition of several parties ranging from the far-left to the more moderate Socialists and the Ecologists, though it failed to win a majority and thus they cannot form the government.
Marine Le Penn’s far-right National Rally, which was a winner in the first round of voting, has taken a beating in the final results.
What Were The Results?
In the 577-seat National Assembly where 289 seats were required for absolute majority, the NPF won 182 seats. President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist Ensemble alliance got 163 seats, and Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN) party and its allies won 143 seats.
President Emmanuel Macron dissolved the country’s National Assembly and called for an early election after his party lost in the European Union elections last month.
What’s Next? Will There Be Coalition?
After parliamentary elections, the French president appoints a prime minister from the party that won the most seats. In most ordinary situations, the candidate is from the president’s own party. But this time, Macron faces the prospect of having to appoint a figure from the left-wing coalition, known as a “cohabitation” arrangement.
France has never seen a post-election coalition, which is quite common in northern European parliamentary democracies like Germany or the Netherlands.
If No Agreement Can Be Found?
The French constitution says Macron cannot call new parliamentary elections for another 12 months. But he can decide who to ask to form a government. Whoever he picks faces a no-confidence vote in the National Assembly, which will convene for 15 days on July 18.
With the Paris Olympics looming, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, who plans to offer his resignation, said he is ready to stay at his post “as long as duty demands.” Macron has three years remaining on his presidential term.
Riots Everywhere Weeks Before Olympics
The announcement of the election results was followed by violent protests in Paris, just weeks before the city is set to host the Olympic Games, commencing on July 27.
Thousands of right-wing protesters and left-wing celebrators flooded the streets of Paris after the election's dramatic outcome shocked the nation. Massive bonfires erupted on Parisian streets as authorities in riot gear confronted demonstrators.
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