In a surprising turn of events, Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN) party has dominated the first round of France's parliamentary elections, securing an impressive 33% of the vote. This marks a historic milestone for the RN, positioning them closer to power than ever before.
The RN's surge comes at the expense of President Emmanuel Macron's centrist party, which garnered just 20% of the vote, while a left-wing bloc followed with 28%. The official results from the interior ministry were announced on Monday, highlighting a significant setback for Macron, who had initiated the snap election after the RN's strong performance in last month's European Parliament elections.
Looking ahead to the second round voting, both the left-wing New Popular Front and Macron's Renaissance party have pledged to withdraw their candidates in numerous districts. This strategic move aims to consolidate the anti-RN vote, increasing the chances of defeating the far-right contender in the runoff.
Marine Le Pen has been actively working to refine the RN's image, distancing the party from its previous associations with racism and antisemitism. This rebranding has resonated with voters frustrated by Macron's policies, the rising cost of living, and concerns over immigration.
French markets responded positively to the RN's performance, with a rally following the announcement that the party's support was slightly below some pre-election polls. While the RN has rolled back some populist economic measures, such as exempting under-30s from income tax, they remain committed to lowering energy prices, though specific strategies have yet to be detailed.
Fiona Cincotta, a senior markets analyst at City Index, commented, \"I think it's a slight 'Well, there were no surprises', so there was a sense of relief there.\"
In a strategic push, RN lawmakers have called on center-right politicians from the Republicans (LR) party to withdraw in districts where their support is weak, potentially benefiting the RN. This has led to public disagreements within the LR party, especially as some members have shown sympathy towards the RN, sparking debates about the far-right's role in mainstream politics.
\"If they know they're not going to win, I'm calling on them to stand down and let the national side win,\" stated RN lawmaker Laure Lavalette on RTL radio.
As the nation awaits the second round, all candidates from the first round have until Tuesday evening to decide whether to proceed to the runoff, setting the stage for a highly anticipated showdown.
