After Marine Le Pen’s Rassemblement National (RN) did well in the first round of elections in France, many thought they would win the final vote.
A shift to the right seemed certain.
Election Upset
But the final election results were surprising.
According to the news outlet Kurier, the left-wing alliance New Popular Front (NFP), led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, won unexpectedly. They secured 182 of the 589 seats in the National Assembly.
Marine Le Pen’s RN, expected to do well, came in third with 143 seats.
The presidential alliance Ensemble took second place with 168 seats.
Right-wing populists were shocked by the results.
Despite the setback, party leader Marine Le Pen remained hopeful, calling the outcome a "postponed" victory for RN.
"The tide is rising. It has not risen high enough this time, but it is still rising and that is why our victory is only postponed," she told TF1 television channel.
Tactical Withdrawals
In the first round, three candidates qualified for the runoff in over 300 of the 577 constituencies. In many of these, the RN candidate was leading.
To stop the right-wing populists, more than 200 candidates withdrew from the runoff, reducing RN’s chances.
RN leader Jordan Bardella warned that France might now fall into the hands of the radical left. Bardella, who hoped for an absolute majority, saw himself as prime minister, as polls had predicted RN would have a relative majority in the new parliament.
No Government Majority
Despite its victory, the left-wing alliance doesn’t have a governing majority in the National Assembly. Along with their 182 seats, other left-wing candidates hold 13 seats.
The presidential camp, once supported by the conservative Republicans, now has only 45 seats.
Centrist politicians won six seats, while right-wing politicians got 15 seats. Due to the mixed results, observers see President Macron continuing to play a key role.
International Reactions
The RN's defeat was welcomed internationally.
"The worst was avoided," said Nils Schmid, foreign policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, to the Funke Media Group. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz did not comment initially.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed relief on social media, writing, "There is enthusiasm in Paris, disappointment in Moscow, relief in Kiev. In Warsaw there is satisfaction."
Nikos Androulakis, leader of the Greek socialist party PASOK, praised the French people for "building a wall against right-wing extremism, racism, and intolerance" and upholding the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
