Exit polls give historic victory to the left in France

As polls close in the second round of the French legislative elections on Sunday (7), exit polls point to a historic victory for the left-wing coalition, the New Popular Front (NFP). According to estimates, the NFP will have between 172 and 192 seats in the new National Assembly.

If the result is confirmed, the New Popular Front will have a relative majority, unless there is an agreement between President Emmanuel Macron’s coalition, Juntos, and the left-wing parties. Despite having led the polls since the beginning of the electoral campaign, the far right could end up with only the third largest group in parliament, with between 132 and 152 seats. Marine Le Pen’s National Rally is expected to fall behind even Juntos, which is indicated by exit polls as the second largest group, with between 150 and 170 seats.

Despite having led the polls since the beginning of the electoral campaign, the far right could end up with only the third largest group in parliament, with between 132 and 152 seats. Marine Le Pen’s National Rally is expected to fall behind even Juntos, which is indicated by exit polls as the second largest group, with between 150 and 170 seats.

“Tonight, the National Rally is far from obtaining the absolute majority as the commentators predicted a week ago,” said Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of France Insoumise (LFI, in its French acronym), the main party of the New Popular Front (NFP).

For the LFI leader, “the New Popular Front is ready to govern. It is the only constructed, coherent, united alternative, with an organized and budgeted program.”

For Mélenchon, Sunday’s result represents a defeat for President Macron, who must call on the NFP to govern the country.

“The defeat of the President of the Republic and his coalition is clearly confirmed. The President must bow down and admit this defeat without trying to get around it in any way,” stressed Jean-Luc Mélenchon.

In a disastrous move for his political group, President Emmanuel Macron dissolved the National Assembly in early June following a resounding victory for the far right in the European parliamentary elections.

Although the result was one of the biggest advances for the far right within the European bloc, the Brussels elections are known for having low turnout and not representing the totality of the population’s wishes. Even so, Macron declared that it was “time for clarification”.

Shortly after the publication of exit polls, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, from the Renascimento party, which is part of Juntos, stated that he will resign from his post on Monday morning (8).

“I will present my resignation to the President of the Republic tomorrow morning,” said the Macron ally. “I will never accept that millions of our citizens choose to vote for the extremes. To the French people I say: I respect each and every one of you. Some lives are harder than others and it is these lives that we must improve. Wherever I am, I will always be ready to achieve this goal,” said Attal.