Left-Wing Alliance Claims Most Seats in French Parliament, Creating Political Uncertainty

With three years remaining in his term and unable to call a new election for at least another year, President Emmanuel Macron is poised to govern over an unruly parliament amid mounting domestic and international challenges.

The New Popular Front (NFP), a coalition including the far-left France Unbowed, the more moderate Socialists, and the Ecologists, won 182 seats in the National Assembly. Macron’s centrist Ensemble alliance secured 163 seats, while Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN) and its allies obtained 143 seats. The NFP's victory falls short of the 289 seats needed for an absolute majority.

The RN’s strong showing in the first round had raised concerns about the potential for France's first far-right government since the Vichy regime of World War II. However, Sunday’s results indicate a strong voter desire to prevent far-right dominance, even if it results in a hung parliament.

The streets of Paris echoed with cheers as projections indicated a leftist victory. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of France Unbowed, expressed relief at the results, calling it a “huge relief for the overwhelming majority of people in our country.” Conversely, Jordan Bardella, the 28-year-old leader of the far-right RN, described the outcome as plunging France into “uncertainty and instability.”

Current Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, a protege of Macron, announced his resignation effective Monday morning. The election results suggest Macron may have to appoint a prime minister from the left-wing coalition, an arrangement known as "cohabitation." However, Macron's party has consistently refused to collaborate with France Unbowed, labeling it as extreme as the RN.

In a brief statement, the Elysee announced that Macron is awaiting the final results from all 577 constituencies before making any decisions. The statement emphasized Macron's role in ensuring that the sovereign choice of the French people is respected.

Former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe, an ally of Macron, remarked that the president’s decision to call a snap election resulted in "great vagueness." He noted that no political bloc has a majority to govern alone, stressing the need for central political forces to create an agreement to stabilize the political situation.