France In Political Turmoil With No Absolute Majority; Surprise Blow For Le Pen's Far-Right (X image@MystiosG)

France is plunged into yet another political turmoil. The French population delivered a surprise blow to Marine Le Pen led far right National Rally Party. While the party was the first runner in the first round of snap poll, second round served huge disappointment, with leftwing alliance, named as New Popular Front, garnering major seats. The surprise move from voters came as the National Rally was all poised to mark history by being the first right wing to form government in France since the World War II.

However, the fate of the new government in Paris remain uncertain as no party won the absolute majority. While the leftwing New Popular Front won 182 seats, President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance won 163 seats. Le Pen’s far right National Rally, which won 143 seats were pushed to third position.

Even though the left alliance has won major seat share, it is still 100 seats short. Amidst the high voter turnout which is estimated to be 67 percent, no single party has won the absolute majority of 289 seats, required to form the government. Reportedly, the parliament is likely to be divided into three blocs: the left, centrists, and the far right.

Read also: Who Is Marine Le Pen, The ‘Far-Right’ Political Leader Of France?

France now entered into an unexplored political landscape. Though other European countries are used to the coalition governments, Paris does not have the history of lawmakers of the opposite political camps aligning together to form a government.

The sharp polarization between the leading players will surely complicate the coalition moves, and any ‘cobble-majority’ raise risks of being vulnerable to no-confidence votes, that could pave way for its fall.

It is going to take weeks for the country to form the government, while 2024 Olympics is due to begin in Paris in less than three weeks. New Prime Minister has to be decided. Sitting PM, Gabriel Attal announced that he would hand his resignation to Macron on Monday. He also added that if required, he could stay in place for the short term, while a new government was formed.

“I know that, in the light of tonight’s results, a lot of French people feel uncertainty about the future because no majority has emerged. Our country is in an unprecedented political situation and is preparing to welcome the world [at the Olympics] in a few weeks. I will stay in my role as long as duty requires”, Attal said, as quoted by The Guardian.

Read also: Far Right Wins First Round Of Snap Polls In France; Major Blow To Emmanuel Macron

The tug of war for key position in the parliament has started off instantly. The leader of leftwing La France Insoumise party leader, Jean-Luc Mélenchon said, “The president must invite the New Popular Front [left alliance] to govern”. To this, the outgoing interior minister, Gérald Darmanin, said: “I note that today, no one can say they have won this legislative election, especially not Mr Mélenchon”.

Though the National Rally was far behind than what it had expected after topping the first round of the snap poll, the party has won historic seat share in the parliament, and a huge leap from the 88 seats it had when the parliament was dissolved last month.

President of National Rally, Jordan Bardella, the 28-yeat-old who was thought to be in position to become the country’s youngest Prime Minister, called the parties that teamed up to stop the far right as a “disgraceful alliance”. Le Pen, who will run for President in the 2027 election, said, “the tide is rising. It did not rise high enough this time, but it continues to rise and our victory has simply been deferred”.

Read also: Mbappe And Thuram: French Footballers Speak Out Against Far-Right Ahead Of Elections

Right ahead of the second round of the poll, more than 200 candidates from the left and centre had pulled out their candidacy in order to avoid splitting the vote against National Rally. The parties had called on voters to choose any candidate against the far right, as an attempt to the latter from winning the absolute majority.