Exit polls in France on Sunday show left-wing parties defeating the Rassemblement National (RN) party in the second round of voting for the ongoing election.
According to an Ipsos exit poll, the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) will take between 171 and 187 seats, President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist Ensemble party will win 152 to 163 seats, and the right-wing RN will place third with 134 to 152 seats. 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.
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Party leaders made speeches addressing the results shortly after polls closed. RN party leader Jordan Bardella denounced the left-wing parties, calling them an “alliance of dishonor.” He went on to accuse President Macron and Prime Minister Gabriel Attal of engaging in “dangerous electoral games.” Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of one of the parties that makes up the NPF, said that the French “people have clearly rejected the worst-case scenario.”
Marine Le Pen took to X to encourage her supporters, arguing that her party’s ultimate victory is now only delayed.
Nous doublons notre nombre de députés. Nous sommes en progression face à une coalition de l'ensemble des mouvements allant de LR jusqu'à la France insoumise.
La marée continue de monter et notre victoire n'est aujourd'hui que différée. pic.twitter.com/fJZZEdMLBY
— Marine Le Pen (@MLP_officiel) July 7, 2024
About a month ago, right-wing parties in Germany, France, and the Netherlands made substantial gains in the European Union parliamentary elections. Following the significant victory of La Pen’s RN party, Macron dissolved the French parliament and called for a new election.
The NFP’s website promotes an agenda of defending purchasing power and wages, expanding public services, providing equality for women, and restraining the extreme right, among other items. The RN is known for its anti-immigration stance, skepticism of centralized European government, and nationalist tendencies. Macron’s Liberal Renaissance party advocates for centrist and pro-European-Union policies.
According to French government sources, nearly 60 percent of voters participated in the election by 5 pm this year, compared to 38 percent in 2022 at the same time of day.
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