In an open letter to newspapers, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that “no one won” the major snap election last weekend, and called on parties with “republican values” to form a governing coalition.
“Let us place our hopes in the ability of our political leaders to demonstrate a sense of harmony and conciliation in your interest, and in the interest of the country,” he wrote. “It is in light of these principles that I will decide on the appointment of the prime minister.”
The president, who previously characterized himself as a “Jupiterian,” called himself a “protector of the higher interests of the Nation” in the letter. But he suspiciously left out his role in the failure for the snap election to successfully choose a new government—he called for the election, almost with foreknowledge that it would fail.
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Macron also commended the French electorate for defeating the “extreme right,” referring to Marine Le Pen’s party which opposes mass immigration.
The New Popular Front (NFP) won 182 seats in the National Assembly, while Macron’s centrist Ensemble alliance won 163 seats (a resurrection compared to the first round where it came in a distant third) and the right-wing National Rally party of Marine Le Pen won 143 sets.
As Valuetainment previously reported, France’s parliament is made up of 577 deputies, with 289 seats needed for a majority. While no party would have a majority, these results would not lead to as large of a victory for the RN as many suspected. In the first round of voting, the RN garnered the most votes with 33 percent, while the NFP claimed 28 percent, and Macron’s party won 21 percent.
The Election Guide reports that France saw a voter turnout of 66.7 percent of its population, compared to the turnout of just 46.2 percent for a similar election in 2022.
Shane Devine is a writer covering politics and business for VT and a regular guest on The Unusual Suspects. Follow Shane’s work here.
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