French President Emmanuel Macron has decided to delay any decisions regarding the formation of a new government following the preliminary results from the second round of parliamentary elections. In a statement released by the Elysee Palace, it was announced that Macron will “wait” to make any moves until a clearer picture of the new National Assembly emerges.
“President Macron, as the guarantor of our institutions, will ensure that the sovereign choice of the French people is respected,” the Elysee Palace asserted in its statement. “In keeping with republican tradition, he will await the structuring of the new National Assembly before taking the necessary decisions,” it added, highlighting Macron’s cautious approach to the unfolding electoral situation.
Macron’s current focus is on analysing the election outcomes meticulously before making any decisions, according to the French presidency’s statement on Sunday. The unexpected success of the New Popular Front (NFP) in the parliamentary runoff has positioned them as the leading force, although they have fallen short of gaining an outright majority. This development signals ongoing political volatility in France, with no single coalition holding sufficient seats to govern independently, as reported by CNN.
In an unexpected turn of events, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has resigned following the election outcomes. The results have marked a significant shift in the French political landscape. Jordan Bardella, leader of the National Rally (RN), acknowledged substantial gains for his party but also expressed disappointment at not meeting their high expectations. Bardella criticised Macron for allegedly “pushing France into uncertainty and instability,” lamenting the RN’s shortfall compared to projections despite an increase in parliamentary seats.
The NFP’s unanticipated success was celebrated exuberantly among its supporters. Socialist leader Olivier Faure emphasised the coalition’s clear mandate, pledging to repeal Macron’s controversial pension reforms and unify under the NFP’s agenda. “We will have just one compass: the programme of the New Popular Front,” Faure declared confidently, according to CNN.
Jordan Bardella voiced his dissatisfaction with what he described as an “alliance of dishonour” between President Macron and the far-left party. He believes this alliance contributed significantly to his party’s greater-than-expected seat losses to France’s left-wing socialist party, the New Popular Front, and Macron’s Ensemble party.
Bardella acknowledged the support received from French voters, achieving an unprecedented number of votes for the RN.
. However, he criticised Macron’s decision to call for the elections, accusing him and Prime Minister Gabriel Attal of playing “dangerous electoral games” with the far-left. Bardella argued that these political manoeuvers have compromised RN’s standing, particularly after their strong performance in the European elections, where they secured 34 per cent of the vote.
“We were leading significantly in the first round, achieving a rate of 45% in certain constituencies across France,” Bardella stated, showing visible disappointment. He accused Macron of throwing the country into “uncertainty and instability” and criticised the president for neglecting security concerns.
Meanwhile, Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of La France Insoumise (LFI) and a prominent figure in the New Popular Front, celebrated what he described as a “magnificent surge of civic mobilisation” among the French citizens, as reported by CNN. Speaking to his cheering supporters, Melenchon highlighted their rejection of worst-case scenarios and portrayed the NFP’s projected success as a victory for the majority.
“This is a huge relief for the overwhelming majority of people in our country,” Melenchon told the cheering crowds on Sunday night. “These people felt terribly threatened. Rest assured, they have won.”
Gabriel Attal also addressed the potential future scenario with none of the parties projected to secure an outright majority. “The president is obliged to call the New Popular Front to govern,” Attal stated.
In Paris, the announcement that the left-wing NFP was projected to surpass RN sparked spontaneous celebrations among supporters. This result marked a significant turnaround from RN’s initial lead after the first round of elections. In a show of emotion, Parisians took to the streets, holding signs and cheering as the outcome was confirmed at 8 PM local time.
Amidst the celebrations, expressions of relief were evident as flares were lit and chants of “everyone hates fascists” resonated through the streets. Initial projections were released at 8 PM Paris time (1800 GMT), with official results anticipated to be announced between late Sunday and Monday, as per CNN’s report.
