France’s right-wing National Rally party appears to be gaining momentum in the country’s legislative elections, with early projections suggesting a strong lead in the first round of voting on Sunday. President Emmanuel Macron called for snap elections three weeks ago, following a right-wing dominated European Union election. Official results are expected later in the day, but polls indicate the National Rally has a good chance of winning a majority in the lower house of parliament, securing around a third of the support.
This would be a significant increase from their 18% victory in the 2022 election. The party’s strong showing sets the stage for a decisive second round of voting on July 7. If the National Rally wins, it would mark a major shift in French politics, with the party potentially gaining control of the government for the first time since Nazi Germany occupied the country during World War II.
The election is a three-way contest between the National Rally, Macron’s centrist political alliance, and the New Popular Front coalition, which includes center-left, green, and hard-left parties. If the National Rally emerges victorious, President Macron would likely appoint 28-year-old party leader Jordan Bardella as prime minister, resulting in a rare situation known as “cohabitation,” where the president and prime minister hail from different political camps.
Macron had called the election in an effort to prevent the rise of the right-wing in France and ensure he remains the dominant force in the country’s politics until the end of his second and final term in 2027.
