The far right is on the verge of taking power in France for the first time since the Second World War after President Emmanuel Macron’s party lost badly in a snap election.

Paris

French President Emmanuel Macron calls a snap election following a bruising loss to the far-right in a European Parliament ballot.

France snap election

France's far-right is nearing power for the first time since the Second World War after President Emmanuel Macron's party suffered significant losses in a snap election. Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right party, expressed that democracy has spoken as her party edged closer to power after the first round of parliamentary elections. This decision, she said, was serious and heavy.

President Macron's centrist party, Renaissance, was defeated in recent European elections by the far-right. Macron had hoped voters would oppose the prospect of the Rassemblement National forming a government. Early polls, however, showed that the RN and its youthful leader Jordan Bardella held a lead. Bardella emphasized the party's desire to unite French people with a platform that includes tax cuts and anti-immigrant policies.

Leftist parties in France joined forces, holding rallies to prevent the RN from winning a majority. Macron's party found itself squeezed in the political center. In a final debate, Macron warned of potential racism, anti-Semitism, and betrayal of French values if RN secured the most parliamentary seats. As ballot counting continued, maneuvering began for the next round of voting with current Prime Minister Gabriel Attal calling for a broad alliance against RN, while Bardella encouraged his supporters to maintain momentum.

Protests erupted across France, forecasting a possible period of unprecedented cohabitation in French politics, with a prime minister and president from opposing political spectrums.



French far-fight defeats Macron's centrists

France's far-right hasn't been this close to power since the Second World War. Democracy has spoken, said Marine Le Pen, who toiled for decades to move her party from the political fringes to now the cusp of power after the first round of parliamentary elections. This decision is serious, heavy. Calling a snap election was an immense gamble for President Emmanuel Macron. His centrist party, Renaissance, was trounced in recent European elections by the far-right. But Macron bet voters would balk at the prospect of the Rassemblement National actually forming a government in France. From the start though, polls suggested the RN and its youthful leader Jordan Bardella were out in front. Our desire is to unite French people, Bardella said, as his party released a platform heavy on tax cuts and anti-immigrant messaging. Parties on France's left mobilized as well, joining forces and holding rallies to try to block the RN from winning a majority. It was Macron's party in the political center that appeared to be getting squeezed out. After the final leaders debate, Macron invoked the specter of what he said would be racism, uninhibited anti-Semitism and a profound betrayal of French values should the RN win the most seats in parliament. Even as the ballots were still being counted though, the maneuvering started for next week's final vote. With Gabriel Attal, France's current prime minister, urging a broad alliance against the Rassemblement National. And Bardella urging supporters to keep the party's momentum going. Across France, there were protests ushering in what may be the start of an unprecedented cohabitation period in French politics, involving a prime minister and a president on political extremes. Chris Brown, CBC News, London.

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