Right-wing party takes lead in first round of French elections

The National Rally (RN) party scored the most votes in the first round of France’s parliamentary elections on Sunday, France’s Interior Ministry reported on Monday. The party, which focuses on increasing regulations on immigration, decreasing contributions to the EU, and restricting the types of weapons France gives to Ukraine, is often characterized by the media as having a far-right platform. It won about 33 percent of the vote compared with the left-wing coalition’s 28 percent, according to the Interior Ministry. President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist bloc won about 20 percent of the vote.

What does this mean? If the RN gains the majority in the second round of elections on July 7, the president could be required to appoint a prime minister from the RN party. A president and prime minister from different political parties leads to split power-sharing, known as cohabitation. Many constituencies face possible three-way run-off elections in the second round if candidates do not bow out of the race. A party is required to attain 289 of the 577 seats to have the absolute majority in the National Assembly.

Why are there elections now? Macron dissolved the National Assembly and called a snap parliamentary election after his party lost seats to the RN party in the European parliament elections in June. Many called this move risky since polls showed the RN party would take the lead. Macron is set to remain president until his term ends in 2027.

Dig deeper: Read Ryan Benn’s report in World Tour on political unrest in French territory New Caledonia.