In an unexpected surprise, the coalition of left-wing parties in France managed to win a relative majority of seats in the country’s parliamentary elections held on Sunday, July 7th, surpassing other parties.
According to initial assessments, the left-leaning “New People’s Front” coalition secured between 172 to 215 seats. This coalition consists of the Green, Social Democratic, Communist, and “Unbowed France” parties led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
The coalition supporting President Emmanuel Macron won 150 to 180 seats, while the far-right party came in third place with 115 to 155 seats. This result is considered a heavy defeat for President Macron.
Voter turnout in this election was 67%, the highest level in the current century. However, none of the three political blocs were able to secure an absolute majority in parliament. This comes as a surprise, as the far-right party was expected to win this election.
Analysts believe that the political sensitivities surrounding this round of parliamentary elections were the main reason for the significant increase in voter participation. As the voting neared its end, French police forces, especially in the capital Paris, went on high alert to deal with potential protests.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, one of the leaders of the French left, declared in his first post-election speech that the French people had rejected “the worst solution,” referring to the defeat of the far-right party.
The far-right group led by Marine Le Pen failed to achieve victory but still hopes to succeed in the next presidential election in 2027.The results of this election show that the left coalition has managed to gain the trust of a significant portion of French voters by presenting appealing and hopeful programs. It remains to be seen how this coalition will be able to fulfill its promises in the future and steer France towards greater social justice and equality.
