In a surprising turn of events, voters in 506 French districts witnessed the left-wing coalition, New Popular Union (NUP), emerge as the leading force in Parliament, surpassing the far-right National Rally and President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist bloc.
As a result of these outcomes, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal from Macron’s bloc announced his resignation, effective Monday, creating uncertainty about the future political landscape in France.
The Road Ahead
The presidency stated that Macron would await the formation of the new Assembly before making any decisions. Possible scenarios include a coalition between left, ruling, and right-wing parties or a technocratic government.
Formation of the Left-Wing Coalition
The NUP coalition formed after uniting left-wing and centrist parties to prevent a far-right victory during the legislative elections called by Macron in response to the conservative success in the European elections on June 9.
Far-Right Reaction
RN leader Jordan Bardella criticized the left-centrist alliance, calling it a “disgrace” and voicing concerns over NUP’s influence in government.
Why It Matters
The lack of an outright majority suggests a challenging political landscape in France, with the newly formed Assembly and Macron’s decisions set to shape the country’s governance in the coming months.