In a strategic move to prevent the far-right National Rally (RN) party from gaining an absolute majority in France’s National Assembly, over 200 candidates from various political parties have agreed to withdraw from local contests. This decision aims to unite the anti-RN vote and increase the chances of defeating the RN candidates in the upcoming elections.
The Interior Ministry is expected to release the candidate list for the second-round vote, with estimates suggesting that up to 218 candidates have already withdrawn. Before these withdrawals, polls predicted the RN could secure between 250-300 seats in the assembly, prompting concerns about the party’s potential dominance.
The efforts to form a “republican front” against the RN have garnered support from financial markets and analysts, who see it as a crucial strategy to limit the far-right party’s influence. Despite the RN’s lead in the first-round vote, challenges remain in convincing voters to support other parties in order to block the RN’s rise to power.
The RN, led by Marine Le Pen, poses a strong opposition with its anti-immigrant and eurosceptic policies, making it a crucial political force to contend with. As the country faces uncertainty and potential political instability, the outcome of the elections will have significant implications for France’s future.