For the first half of France’s snap parliamentary elections, the far-right emerged victorious.

The interior ministry disclosed on Monday, July 1, 2024, that the far-right National Rally (RN) party and its allies reached 33% of the national popular vote in the first round of parliamentary elections.

It added that the leftwing New Popular Front (NFP) alliance came in second with 28% while President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist Together coalition relegated to third place with 20% of the vote.

The result marks the first time the RN has won more than 20% of the vote in a parliamentary election and puts the party within reach of forming the country’s first ever far-right elected government.

The far-right victory was applauded by other far-right leaders in Europe.

Santiago Abascal, who heads the far-right Vox party across the border in Spain, called it a “victory of hope, freedom and security for the French people.”

André Ventura, leader of Portugal’s Chega party, hailed “a great victory”, adding, “Europe is waking up! Soon, it will be Portugal!”

However the final results and the exact makeup of the 577-seat parliament are far from certain and the RN’s chances of winning power will depend on the political dealmaking made by its rivals over the coming days, ahead of the vote’s second round, slated for Sunday, July 7, 2024.

President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance and the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) coalition called for tactical voting after the far-right National Rally (RN) won the most votes in a first round of parliamentary elections.

The leader of the NFP, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, said the leftist alliance would withdraw all its candidates who came third in the first round.

He stated, “Our guideline is simple and clear: not a single more vote for the National Rally.”

In a post on X, Matteo Salvini, Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and the leader of the far-right League party, accused Macron of undemocratic behaviour after the French President called for a united front to head off RN in the second round.

“Shameful Macron who, by calling for ‘blocs’ against the National Rally in the second round, behaves like [European Commission President Ursula] Von der Leyen and tries in every way to oppose a change expressed by millions of French people, in Paris and in Brussels.”
Matteo Salvini

If the RN wins an absolute majority, which is still seen as a challenge, it will be the first time in French history that a far-right party has won a parliamentary election and formed a government and Macron will have to share power with the far-right.

If the RN wins the most seats but not a majority, Macron could find himself with a hung parliament unable to govern the EU’s second biggest economy and its top military power.

Seven Days To Spare France From Catastrophe

Raphael Glucksmann, a key figure in the left-wing alliance issued a plea for all the candidates who finished third at the first round vote to withdraw in order to build a united barrier against the far right.

Glucksmann said, “We have seven days to avoid a catastrophe the likes of which France has never known in its history.”

“This is no longer just a legislative election: it’s a referendum. Do we – yes or no – want the far right to take power at the ballot box for the first time? That is the only question that matters. All political identities – left and right – melt away in the face of that dizzying question.