PARIS – Voters in French legislative elections have been dealt with President Emmanuel Macron a serious blow on Sunday as his centrist coalition lost its absolute majority in the lower house to a rising far right and a defiant coalition of leftist partiescomplicate his domestic agenda for a second term.
With all votes counted, Mr Macron’s centrist coalition won 245 seats in the 577-seat National Assembly, the more powerful and lower lower house. That is more than any other political group, but less than half the total number of seats and far less than the 350 seats won by Mr Macron’s party and its allies. when he was first elected in 2017.
For the first time in 20 years, a newly elected president failed to gain an absolute majority in Congress. It will not bring Mr Macron’s domestic agenda to a complete halt, but will likely throw a major key into his ability to pass bills – shifting power back to Parliament after his term. the first period that he top-down management style most legislators are marginalized.
Mr Macron’s government will likely have to seek a coalition or build short-term coalitions on bills, but it’s unclear how Sunday night might play out.
The result was a stark warning from French voters to Mr. Macron, who just months ago won re-election convincingly over far-right leader Marine Le Pen. “The Slap” is Monday’s headline on the front page of the left-leaning daily Libération.
Elisabeth BorneMr Macron’s prime minister – who won his own race in Normandy – said on Sunday that the result was “unprecedented” and “this situation constitutes a risk to our country”. , in the face of the challenges we face.”
“Starting tomorrow, we will work to build a majority action,” she said, suggesting, without giving details, that the government would work with other political parties to “build it.” make good compromises”.
Mr. Macron is unlikely to participate in parliamentary elections and campaign less on his own, seemingly preoccupied by France’s diplomatic efforts to aid Ukraine in its war against Russia – which resulted in today’s election. Sunday won’t matter, as French presidents can conduct foreign policy almost as they please.
Talking on the airport runway before a trip to Eastern Europe brought him to Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, last weekhe appealed to voters to give him a “solid majority” for “the preeminent interest of the nation.”
But many French voters have instead chosen to stay at home – only about 46% of French voters turned up at the ballot box, the second-lowest participation predicted since 1958 – or cast ballots for pro-level opponents. Macron’s most progressive.
Some of Mr Macron’s close allies or running cabinet members have lost, a stinging rebuke to the president, who has vowed that ministers who fail to win seats will have to resign. . Richard Ferrand, the president of the National Assembly, and Amélie de Montchalin, his green transition minister, were both defeated.
“We have disappointed some French people, the message is clear,” Olivia Grégoire, a spokesman for Mr Macron’s government, told France 2 television on Sunday.
“It’s a disappointing first place, but it’s a first place anyway,” she said, adding that Mr Macron’s coalition would work in Parliament with “all those who want to bring the country back.” move forward”.
The final results showed a coalition of leftist parties – including the leftist France Unbowed, the socialists, the Greens and the Communists, and was led by a veteran leftist. Jean-Luc Mélenchon – 131 seats, becoming the largest opposition force in the National Assembly. The National Rally, Le Pen’s far-right party, won 89 seats, a historic record.
Étienne Ollion, a sociologist who teaches at the École Polytechnique, said Sunday’s results were “a double surprise”.
“It was the absence of an absolute majority – we saw it coming but didn’t expect it to be to that extent – and on the other hand it was a strong National Rally breakthrough, quite spectacular,” he said.
With a relatively slim majority – the smallest of France’s 63-year-old Fifth Republic, and strong opposition on the left and far right, Mr Macron’s centrist coalition could have a hard time getting through, Mr. Ollion said. passed bills, potentially forcing him to reach out to opposition lawmakers on a few votes.
“The way in which the president can run through his prime minister is quite uncertain at the moment,” Mr. Ollion said.
It remains unclear what other allies Mr. Macron’s coalition could find to form a working majority, although it seems likely that the best fit would be Les Républicains, the mainstream conservative party, which has won 61 chair.
Mr Macron will also be more dependent on centrist allies than he was during his first term, especially to pass controversial projects such as a plan to raise the legal retirement age to 65 words. 62. That could give more leverage to parties like Horizons, a center-right group founded by Mr. Macron’s former prime minister, Édouard Philippe, who has more of a stance on finance. Horizons is expected to win about 25 seats.
“We are used to seeing the French system as centered on the presidency” because it is the most powerful political body in the country, said Olivier Rozenberg, an associate professor at Sciences Po in Paris. But “these legislative elections remind us that our political system is also a parliamentary system at the center.”
Mr. Mélenchon and Ms. Le Pen both said on Sunday that they had succeeded in disrupting Mr. Macron’s second term.
“The defeat of the presidential party is complete,” Mr. Mélenchon told cheering supporters in Paris. “We have achieved the political goal we have set for ourselves.”
Mr. Mélenchon failed to achieve his original goal, which was to gain control of the National Assembly and force Mr. Macron to appoint himself prime minister. Major policy differences among union members on issues like the European Union could also resurface when the lower house of parliament reconvenes later this month.
Still, it was a powerful display of what left-wing parties were once largely written as hopelessly divided in presidential elections.
On the other end of the political spectrum, Ms Le Pen’s National Election won more seats than the current few, and more than expected after Ms Le Pen defeated by Mr. Macron in the presidential election in Apriland then run a lackluster campaign for congress.
Ms. Le Pen herself was easily re-elected to her seat in a district in northern France.
“This group will by far be the largest in the history of our political family,” she said in a speech on Sunday, promising supporters she would defend her hardline line. party on immigration and security.
Mr. Macron’s predicament is not unique to France’s modern history. In 1988, under President François Mitterrand, the Socialists were also unable to assemble an absolute majority in the National Assembly, forcing it to occasionally poll left or right-wing legislators to pass bills. . But that government also has access to tools — like the ability to force passage of a bill without a vote, by having the government vote of confidence — that are now much more limited.
Sunday’s vote was also affected by record low turnout, a warning sign for Mr Macron, who has promised to rule closer to the people during his second term. , and is a testament to voters’ growing discontent with French politics.
“There is a problem of representation,” said Aude Leroux, 44, who lives in Amiens. Mr. Macron’s hometown is in the north of Franceand stay away from the ballot box on Sundays.
Ms Leroux, who was heading to the clothing stalls in one of Amiens’ large open-air markets, said she felt like “the most important issue was solved” when the presidential race was over.
But Sunday’s results could prove her wrong, as Mr Macron could be forced to compromise to pass bills and when opposition forces are expected to take control of key committees, for example. as the powerful finance committee that oversees the state budget.
“Incredible opportunities will come your way,” Mr. Mélenchon told his left-wing lawmakers on Sunday. “You have a great combat tool in your hands.”
Adele Cordonnier Reporting contributions from Amiens.
