France scramble to create an anti-far-right front

After Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN) achieved unprecedented gains to win the first round of parliamentary elections on Monday, the country’s major parties attempted to forge a unified front to obstruct the party’s road to administration.

Official results indicated that President Emmanuel Macron’s broad coalition of centrists received only 22% of the vote, well behind the RN and its allies who won the round on Sunday with 33%. A left-wing bloc came in second with 28%.

Financial markets rose in satisfaction that the RN’s tally was not higher, but Macron, who called the sudden election after his ticket was crushed by the RN in the European Parliament election last month, suffered a severe defeat.

“I’m satisfied, because we need change,” said RN supporter Jean-Claude Gaillet, 64, in Le Pen’s northern stronghold of Henin-Beaumont. “Things have not moved, and they must move.”

However, some were concerned that the RN’s ascent and its nationalist agenda would fuel escalating conflicts within French society.

“I don’t think people realise what’s happening, they are only thinking of the cost of living and short-term things like that,” said Yamina Addou outside a supermarket in the nearby town of Oignies, south of Lille. “I find it very sad.”

The ability of the euroskeptic, anti-immigrant RN to form a government will now rely on how well other parties are able to block Le Pen by uniting around the top-placed opposition candidates in hundreds of French constituencies.

Macron was scheduled to meet with key aides later on Monday at his Elysee Palace to discuss campaign tactics.

(Source: Reuters)