French election shocker: Left-wing triumphs, Le Pen falls short
The parliamentary elections in France have concluded. The left-wing New People's Front was the unexpected winner. Marine Le Pen's National Rally, which finished third, was a disappointment. In interviews with o2.pl, the French are commenting on the results.
5:11 PM EDT, July 8, 2024
The second round of the French parliamentary elections was full of surprises. During the election campaign, Marine Le Pen's National Rally was the clear favorite.
It's important to note that this party won the last European Parliament elections, directly leading Emmanuel Macron to dissolve the French parliament.
The National Rally also won the first round of the French elections and appeared to be on the path to taking power in France. Ultimately, Marine Le Pen's party won only 143 seats and finished third in the electoral race.
The left-wing New People's Front, led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, won the election. A coalition of over 50 parties and French leftist movements secured 182 seats. In second place was President Emmanuel Macron's camp, which won 168 seats.
I am surprised and disappointed because, in the first round of elections, the National Rally came in first place, and for me and my friends, it was a kind of hope for good changes in France - says Jeremy Gauthier, who lives with his family near Paris, in an interview with o2.pl.
Gauthier adds that, according to him, "dark times are coming for France." He also criticizes the leader of the leftist faction.
Mélenchon is a bit unpredictable for me, a man who said that "one dead policeman is one less vote for Bardella." This is unacceptable. Then he explained: "it was just a joke". For me, it is not funny. I fear that Mélenchon's priority will not be people like me, who work hard and pay taxes, but strangers - Gauthier tells us.
According to Gauthier, "Mélenchon wants to disarm the police, and drug dealers may take over the streets in France."
62-year-old Guillaume presents a completely different vision. He lives in southern France and "breathed a sigh of relief" after the elections.
My wife and I breathed a sigh of relief. The French did not fall for the populists. What will happen now - it’s hard to say. For me, the most important thing is that Le Pen and Bardella will not govern - he briefly tells o2.pl.
It's worth mentioning that the question of the French prime ministership is still open. Jean-Luc Mélenchon wants to take on the task of forming a government. The leader of the French left has appealed to Emmanuel Macron to appoint him as prime minister.
However, the French president is unlikely to cooperate extensively with the New People's Front. Macron's bloc politicians have already stated that "no one can feel like a winner of the election" and that "the radically left Unsubmissive France (LFI) leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon under no circumstances can govern the country."
Appointing a new prime minister of the French government may take some time. How long? There is no definite date. What is certain, however, is that it will be a time of intense coalition talks. The left-wing bloc does not have a sufficient majority to govern France alone.
