Culture Society, Identity and Belonging
Emmanuel Macron hoped for a moment of “clarification” when he called snap in France parliamentary elections this month. He is now facing an ice bath full of it. Marine Le Pen’s far-right party was the clear winner in last night’s first round, with projections putting her Rassemblement National (RN) party on 34 per cent of the vote after a record turnout. A left-wing alliance came second, with Macron’s centrist group limping into third place with around 20 per cent. The number to watch now: 289, for the RN to win a majority of parliamentary seats in the second round next Sunday. If they pull it off, France will have a far-right prime minister governing alongside Macron. If not – and this could now be the best case scenario for Macron – he faces a hung parliament that is close to ungovernable.
