Nupe, a coalition of leftists and environmentalists led by radical left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon, and Junto!, a formation that brings together the center right, including moderate socialists and supporters of President Emmanuel Macron, according to the first estimates of the first round of elections in the legislature that passed today in France is practically a draw.
The first results predictions show that NUPES took first place with 26.2% followed by Juntos! (25.8%) and the National Assembly Marine le Pen, far right (19.1%).
President Emmanuel Macron’s goal is to win an absolute majority in the second round to advance his reform agenda for his second term, but nothing is set for him yet because Mélenchon’s coalition could seriously complicate the project.
However, the reality is that, despite the favorable dynamics for the left, nothing has yet been decided in this first round, and the left has fewer vote reserves for the second round than the coalition supporting Emmanuel Macron.
Indeed, after today’s first lap, we are waiting for intense maneuvers and behind-the-scenes negotiations for the second lap next Sunday. It’s a French “tradition” to keep the nameless two-round majoritarian election system in place, which many observers consider obsolete.
As a result, next Sunday, in the second round, the number of seats in parliament that each party or coalition will receive will not match the number of votes they received in the first round, which, however, is in reality a true equilibrium. forces of various party formations in the French political arena.
Perhaps for this reason – because France does not have a proportional system in the legislature – six weeks after the presidential election, the turnout in this election was historically low, with an abstention record close to 53 percent, according to various studies. institutions, surveys.
According to the forecasts for the second round, Juntos! can win an absolute majority in Parliament next Sunday, 19 June.
