The recent French elections have seen a significant shift in political alliances, with French President Emmanuel Macron now advocating for support of left-wing candidates in some areas to prevent the rise of the right-wing populists led by Marine Le Pen’s Rassemblement National (National Rally, RN. This comes as a surprise, considering Macron’s claims just days prior that voting for either left or right would lead France into “civil war.
Macron’s Prime Minister Gabriel Attal defended this new position by stating that the rainbow coalition of left-wing parties contesting the election is not in a position to hold an absolute majority in the parliament. In contrast, the RN has the potential to gain control and is therefore considered the greater threat.
However, RN lead candidate Jordan Bardella criticized Macron’s stance as an “alliance of dishonour” and urged the French people to vote according to their own beliefs rather than following Macron’s advice or the “unnatural alliance” suggested by the government.
The results of these elections have put Le Pen’s Populists in a position where they could either gain an outright majority, or fall just a few seats short, necessitating a coalition to achieve power. The RN is facing difficulty forming alliances, as many parties are reluctant to work with them. One possible ally could be the legacy Republicans, which has been significantly weakened in recent years but may be willing to forge an alliance to counteract Macron’s support for the left.
In the meantime, various deals and agreements have been made across France between individual candidates to prevent the rise of RN members. For instance, serving cabinet minister Dominique Faure has thrown her support behind a socialist candidate in order to defeat Le Pen’s party.
As the French election enters its final week, it remains unclear whether Macron’s strategic shift will be enough to prevent the populists from gaining power. The outcome of these elections could have significant implications for France and its political landscape in the years to come.