France is on the brink of potentially electing a far-right government for the first time since World War Two, with the National Rally (RN) winning the first round of snap parliamentary elections. President Emmanuel Macron called for the elections after his centrist alliance suffered a defeat in the European Parliament elections.
Despite Macron remaining as president, he will have to choose a prime minister from the party with the most influence in the National Assembly, even if their policies differ from his own. The RN’s chances of taking power will depend on potential alliances formed by their rivals.
Key figures in the campaign include Jordan Bardella of the National Rally and Gabriel Attal of the ‘Together’ Alliance. Bardella, a sharp young leader, has used social media to appeal to younger voters, while Attal has rapidly risen through the political ranks under Macron’s guidance.
Left-wing figures such as Jean-Luc Melenchon, Raphael Glucksmann, and Laurent Berger are also prominent in the race, each bringing their unique perspectives to the table.