Right-wing National Rally emerges victorious in initial round of snap parliamentary elections in France
(MENAFN) The right-wing National Rally (RN) and its coalition partners have emerged victorious in the initial round of snap parliamentary elections in France, securing over 33percent of the vote, according to official results released by the Interior Ministry on Monday.
President Emmanuel macron called for early parliamentary elections following the RN's strong performance in last month's European Parliament elections, where the party, formerly led by Marine Le Pen and now headed by Jordan Bardella, secured 30 out of France's 81 seats.
In the latest electoral contest, the newly-formed left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) secured second place with 28percent of the vote, while Macron's centrist Ensemble bloc managed 20percent.
As per the final results, the RN and NFP have secured 37 and 32 seats respectively in the 577-member National Assembly, contrasting sharply with Macron's party, which has only managed to secure two seats. Candidates must achieve over half of the vote to secure victory in the first round. In cases where no candidate meets this threshold, those reaching a 12.5percent threshold will advance to a runoff scheduled for June 7.
French media projections suggest that the RN is poised to secure between 230 and 280 seats in the National Assembly, a significant increase from its previous 149 seats.
The voter turnout for this election was notably higher compared to two years ago, with the Interior Ministry reporting a participation rate of 59percent, up from 39percent in 2022. The previous parliamentary elections marked a setback for Macron's supporters, as his party lost its absolute majority in the legislature.
The outcome of the first round underscores the shifting political landscape in France, with the RN consolidating its position as a formidable force and Macron's coalition facing significant electoral challenges ahead of the runoff.
MENAFN03072024000045015687ID1108402814
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.