LEFT INSTEAD OF RIGHT: Runoff election surprise in France - Even Macron's camp overtakes Le Pen

The day after the unexpected result of the parliamentary election, France has to regroup. The shift to the right is less pronounced than expected - a left-wing alliance is expected to be the strongest force in the newly elected National Assembly. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has drawn the first conclusions and announced his resignation. However, a majority capable of governing is not yet in sight, and the left lacks a common leadership. It is also uncertain what the result means for Germany and Europe.
According to the Ipsos and Ifop institutes, the Nouveau Front Populaire, made up of leftists, communists, socialists and greens, could win 177 to 192 of the 577 seats - and thus caused a big surprise.
The centre camp of President Emmanuel Macron and Attal, on the other hand, has dropped from 250 to 152 to 169 seats. The Rassemblement National (RN) around Marine Le Pen and its allies has grown from 88 to 138 to 145 seats - and is therefore likely to come in third place. However, none of the groups is likely to achieve an absolute majority of 289 seats.
Victory celebrations and riots
Riots broke out at demonstrations in cities across the country during the night. In Paris, thousands of people gathered on the Place de la République in the center of the capital to celebrate the victory of the left-wing coalition. According to media reports, some of the demonstrators clashed with law enforcement officers, who then used tear gas. Wooden barricades were set on fire. Clashes also broke out in Lille, Rennes and Nantes.
Left sees government responsibility - despite deep divides
France's divided left had only joined forces a few weeks ago to form the Nouveau Front Populaire. In the European elections at the beginning of June, the parties had still run separately. The main dispute within the left is over the old left leadership icon Jean-Luc Mélenchon. The populist, who has attracted attention with his Eurosceptic statements and is clearly pro-Palestinian, is being heavily criticized even within his own party.
The alliance of leftists, communists, socialists and greens does not have a clear leadership. There is also no common program.
After their surprise victory, the left still claimed a government. "We have won and now we will govern," said Green Party General Secretary Marine Tondelier. The founder of the French left-wing party Mélenchon also demanded that Macron ask the left-wing alliance to govern.
Le Pen looks ahead
A landslide victory for the right-wing nationalist Rassemblement National (RN) led by Marine Le Pen was actually expected. After the first round of voting a week ago, forecasts put the RN just short of an absolute majority and thus possibly in a position to form the next government. A government of the right-wing nationalists - probably the worst case scenario for Germany and the EU - seems to have been averted for the time being. Nevertheless, the RN has made significant gains.
Le Pen appeared calm after the first projections: "The tide continues to rise and our victory today is only postponed." RN leader Jordan Bardella also said that his party was the only alternative to the alleged "unity party" of the left camp and the center forces.
The left and Macron's centre forces had formed an alliance of convenience before the second round of voting. In order not to take votes away from each other in constituencies where three candidates made it to the second round and thus help the RN to win locally, several candidates from the left and the liberals withdrew. They called on their voters to vote against the RN in any case.
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Video created in 2024