French President Emmanuel Macron has lost control of the National Assembly in general elections after a newly formed left coalition made sizeable gains and the far right notched record victories.
The result, announced in the early hours of Monday morning, sent French politics into turmoil and raised the prospect of a paralyzed legislature unless Macron is able to negotiate alliances with other parties.
Macron, 44, now also risks being distracted by domestic issues as he seeks to play a prominent role in ending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and as a key statesman in the European Union.
The president’s centrist ensemble coalition will also be the strongest party in the next national assembly. But with 245 seats, according to the Interior Ministry’s findings, it is well below the 289 seats needed for a majority in the 577-member chamber.
A broad left-wing coalition, NUPES, united behind leftist veteran Jean-Luc Melenchon, was expected to be the most prominent opposition group, while far-right leader Marine Le Pen’s National Rally party saw a tenfold increase and will send 89 MPs into the new parliament.
“In view of the challenges we have to face, this situation poses a risk for our country,” Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said in a television statement.
“We will work to build a functioning majority starting tomorrow,” she said.
Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire called the result a “democratic shock” and vowed to reach out to all pro-European parties to help govern the country.
The result tarnished Macron’s victory in April’s presidential election, when he defeated the far right and became the first French president to win a second term in more than two decades. It also raises questions about Macron’s ability to deliver on his second-term agenda, including tax cuts, welfare reforms and raising the retirement age.
“It’s a turning point for his image of invincibility,” said Bruno Cautres, a researcher at Sciences Po’s Center for Policy Research.
‘Unexpected Situation’
In France, there is now no fixed script for how things will develop. The last time a newly elected president failed to win an absolute majority in a general election was in 1988.
Macron could eventually call snap elections if there is a legislative deadlock.
Le Monde headlined its website: “Macron faces risk of political paralysis,” while Le Figaro daily said the results raised the specter of a “stillborn new mandate.”
Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of the NUPES alliance, delivers a speech after the first results of the second round of general elections in Paris on June 19, 2022 [Bertrand Guay/ AFP]
Melenchon of the NUPES Alliance called the result “completely unexpected”.
“The defeat of the presidential party is complete and there is no clear majority in sight,” he told jubilant supporters.
“France has spoken, and it has to be said, with too little of a vote because the abstentions are still far too high, meaning a large part of France doesn’t know where to turn.”
Melenchon’s NUPES alliance campaigned to freeze prices on essential goods, lower the retirement age, limit inheritance and ban companies paying dividends when they lay off workers. Melenchon also called for disobedience to the EU.
Le Pen, whose party won the largest-ever representation in the assembly, said it will seek to unite all “patriots on both the right and left wing.”
“The Macron adventure has reached its end,” she said. “We will embody a strong opposition.”
Jordan Bardella, interim director of the National Rally, called the result “a major breakthrough”.
“It is Emmanuel Macron’s own arrogance, his own contempt for the French people and his own impotence in terms of security and purchasing power that made him a minority president,” he said.
Marine Le Pen delivers a speech after the first results of the parliamentary elections in Henin-Beaumont, northern France, June 19, 2022 [Denis Charlet/ AFP]
Macron’s ability to spur further reforms of the eurozone’s second-biggest economy now depends on winning support for his policies from moderate parties outside his alliance, both on the right and left.
“Moderates sit on the benches, right, left. There are moderate socialists and there are people on the right who may be with us on legislation,” said government spokeswoman Olivia Gregoire.
Macron and his party must now decide whether to seek an alliance with the conservative Les Republicains, who finished fourth with 61 seats, or lead a minority government that must negotiate draft legislation with other parties on a case-by-case basis.
However, Les Republicains President Christian Jacob made it clear that it would not be an easy partnership, saying his party intends to “remain in opposition”.
There could now be weeks of political deadlocks as the President attempts to reach new parties.
In another blow to Macron, key ministers up for election were set to lose their jobs under a convention that they were set to resign if they didn’t win seats.
Health Minister Brigitte Bourguignon, Sea Minister Justine Benin and Environment Minister Amelie de Montchalin – a pillar of Macron’s government in recent years – have all lost and will now leave the government.
Two other close Macron allies, Parliament Speaker Richard Ferrand and former Home Secretary Christophe Castaner, both conceded defeat in the battle for their seats.
In rare good news for the President, Europe Minister Clement Beaune and Public Service Minister Stanislas Guerini – both young pillars of his party – won tight battles for their seats.
On the left, Rachel Keke, a former cleaner who campaigned for better working conditions at her hotel, was also elected, defeating Macron’s former sports minister, Roxana Maracineanu.
Turnout was low, with an abstention rate of 53.77 percent, higher than in the first ballot, according to the Home Office, but not beating the record-low turnout of 2017.