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In a race against time, candidates rushed to register before the Sunday evening deadline for snap parliamentary elections in France. The political landscape is shifting, with a left-wing alliance formed to combat the rise of the far right facing setbacks as a prospective lawmaker with a history of spousal assault withdrew his candidacy in the final hours.
President Emmanuel Macron dissolved the National Assembly after a defeat by the far right in European elections, prompting the snap polls. Adrien Quatennens, a former lawmaker convicted of spousal assault, decided not to stand after facing pressure from within his party and allies.
Quatennens, expressing regret for his actions, warned of the danger of far-right governance in France. The New Popular Front is striving to prevent this outcome by presenting a united front against the far right in the upcoming elections.
Candidates had until 6 p.m. Sunday to complete their registration, with Macron hoping for a centrist resurgence in the face of the far-right challenge. The political stakes are high as France grapples with the possibility of a far-right government for the first time since World War II.