SwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

Power in Sight for Le Pen – Tense Final Round Ahead

Marine Le Pen's National Rally becomes the largest party in the first round of the French parliamentary elections, according to exit polls. Now she hopes for an absolute majority – while the president calls for a "broad coalition" against the far-right.

» Updated: 16 July 2024, 14:50

» Published: 30 June 2024

Power in Sight for Le Pen – Tense Final Round Ahead
Photo: Thibault Camus/AP/TT

Marine Le Pen's National Assembly becomes the largest party in the first round of the French parliamentary election, according to exit polls.

Now she hopes for an absolute majority – while the president calls for a "broad gathering" against the far-right.

Various surveys give the National Assembly (RN) around 34 percent of the votes, compared to 28 for the left-wing alliance NFP and 20 for President Emmanuel Macron's center alliance Together.

A total of between 65 and 85 members are estimated to have been directly elected to the 577 seats in parliament on Sunday, including Marine Le Pen herself. The rest will have to wait for a decisive second round in a week.

Then, the National Assembly hopes for even better results.

Democracy has spoken. We need an absolute majority so that (party leader) Jordan Bardella can be appointed prime minister in a week, says Le Pen at an election rally in her constituency Hénin-Beaumont.

Calling for gathering

However, everything depends on the final vote next Sunday in the many constituencies where no candidate has yet reached the necessary 50 percent. There, at least the two best candidates will meet in a decisive duel for the mandate.

According to the results of the first round, there will also be three-way battles in several places, where a third candidate has received enough votes to participate.

The opponents of the National Assembly are calling for a strong gathering against the far-right.

"The time has come to gather clearly democratically and republicanly before the second round," says President Emmanuel Macron in a statement.

Tonight is not like other nights. The far-right is at the gates of power, warns Prime Minister Gabriel Attal in a TV address.

Withdrawing?

On the left, several party leaders within NFP have already promised that their candidates will withdraw if they are third in their constituencies.

Not a single vote, not a single seat for RN, says Jean-Luc Mélenchon from the left-wing party LFI, for example.

Attal promises the same thing – but only if there is a counter-candidate who "also defends the values of the republic".

The right-wing party Republicans (LR), which gets around 10 percent in the exit polls, does not intend to give its voters any recommendations before the final round.

The danger our country is facing now is the far-left, says EU parliamentarian François-Xavier Bellamy on French TV.

The election result sets the stage for a tense week leading up to the final round on July 7.

Already on Sunday, the French police were on high alert for potential protests and demonstrations.

This is how the first round of the French parliamentary election went on Sunday, according to exit polls on French TV:

National Assembly (RN): 33.5-34.2 percent

New People's Front (NFP): 28.1-29.1 percent

Together: 20.3-21.5 percent

Republicans (LR): 10-10.2 percent

According to the polling institute Ipsos, the National Assembly can hope for between 230 and 280 seats in parliament after the final round, compared to 125-165 for NFP and 70-100 for Macron's alliance.

The voter turnout is preliminarily reported to be 67 percent, compared to almost 48 in the 2022 election.

Tags
TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

New death after methanol alarm in tourist town
1 MIN READ

New death after methanol alarm in tourist town

Iran's IAEA Response: New, Stronger Centrifuges
2 MIN READ

Iran's IAEA Response: New, Stronger Centrifuges

South Korea: What North Korea gets from Russia
1 MIN READ

South Korea: What North Korea gets from Russia

At Least Two Dead in Russian Attack on Sumy
1 MIN READ

At Least Two Dead in Russian Attack on Sumy

Expert: Putin's robot attack a political marking
2 MIN READ

Expert: Putin's robot attack a political marking

Scattering Ashes at Machu Picchu – Security Tightened
1 MIN READ

Scattering Ashes at Machu Picchu – Security Tightened

Zelensky: Putin is testing you
1 MIN READ

Zelensky: Putin is testing you

Orban defies ICC - invites Netanyahu
2 MIN READ

Orban defies ICC - invites Netanyahu

Trump chooses new minister after Gaetz's resignation
2 MIN READ

Trump chooses new minister after Gaetz's resignation

Norway: Suspected spy worked at the US Embassy
1 MIN READ

Norway: Suspected spy worked at the US Embassy

Pistorius does not want to take over power from Scholz
1 MIN READ

Pistorius does not want to take over power from Scholz

40 People Killed in Attack in Pakistan
1 MIN READ

40 People Killed in Attack in Pakistan

Police Investigation: Prosecute Bolsonaro for Coup Attempt
1 MIN READ

Police Investigation: Prosecute Bolsonaro for Coup Attempt

Reports: North Korean General Injured in Ukraine
1 MIN READ

Reports: North Korean General Injured in Ukraine

Gaetz drops out after suspicions of buying sex
2 MIN READ

Gaetz drops out after suspicions of buying sex

USA imposes new sanctions on Russia
1 MIN READ

USA imposes new sanctions on Russia

Russia significantly increases defense budget
1 MIN READ

Russia significantly increases defense budget

Foreign Minister: Sweden Supports the ICC's Work
2 MIN READ

Foreign Minister: Sweden Supports the ICC's Work

Expert: ICC decision puts Germany in a difficult situation
2 MIN READ

Expert: ICC decision puts Germany in a difficult situation

ICC: Netanyahu and Gallant accused of war crimes
3 MIN READ

ICC: Netanyahu and Gallant accused of war crimes