The unexpected victory of a left-wing coalition in France's key legislative elections, overshadowing an expected surge from the far right, has thrown the country into political turmoil. With no major party able to secure a majority, France now faces the risk of a hanging parliament.
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has announced his resignation after his far-left coalition won the most seats in parliament, albeit short of a majority, in a major upset for conservatives who had hoped that Marine Le Pen's National Rally would take power.
“Our country is facing an unprecedented political situation and we are preparing to welcome the world in the coming weeks,” said Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, who is due to announce his resignation later the same day.
Riots in Paris ahead of Olympics, France politically paralyzed
Violent protests ensued in Paris after the election results were announced, just weeks before the Olympic Games are due to open on July 27. Thousands of right-wing protesters and left-wing celebrants flooded the streets of Paris after the dramatic results of the election shocked the nation, with President Emmanuel Macron's centrist coalition expected to come in second.
Massive bonfires broke out in the streets of Paris as authorities in riot gear confronted protesters. Police used tear gas to quell the escalating violence and several arrests were made. Protesters responded by hurling Molotov cocktails and setting off smoke bombs, further fuelling the unrest.
The unprecedented election results and the ensuing unrest highlight a period of significant political instability in France, raising concerns about the country's direction and ability to govern effectively amid such divisions.
Meanwhile, in Paris's Place de Stalingrad, left-wing supporters roared and applauded the election results. Cheers also rang out in Place de la Republique in eastern Paris, where people spontaneously hugged strangers and applauded incessantly for several minutes after the projection.
Medical secretary Marielle Castries was on the Paris subway when the results were first published.
“Everyone was there with their smartphones, waiting for the results, and everyone was overjoyed,” said the 55-year-old. “I've been stressed since the European elections on June 9… And now I feel good, I feel relieved.”
French elections: Political instability continues
A hung assembly in France, the EU's second-largest market, is expected to have an adverse effect on the market and have far-reaching implications for the Ukraine war and global diplomacy.
When Macron flies to Washington this week for a NATO summit, he will leave without a clear idea of who will be his next prime minister – and may be forced to share power with politicians who strongly oppose his policies.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced early elections on June 9 in response to the rise of the far-right. But the ploy backfired, with official results released early Monday showing that none of the three main parties had won far enough to secure the 289 seats needed to control the 577-seat National Assembly.
The election results showed that the left-wing New Popular Front coalition came in first with just over 180 seats, beating Macron's centrist coalition's more than 160. Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally and its allies came in third, but its more than 140 seats were well above the party's previous record of 89 in 2022.
French politics: what happens next?
The recent parliamentary elections in France have dramatically changed the political landscape, with a left-wing coalition unexpectedly winning a majority in parliament, but falling short of a majority.
A far-left coalition led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon is pursuing the possibility of forming a government and nominating a prime minister, but without a clear majority, it would need to negotiate with other parties to pass legislation, potentially destabilizing the government structure.
They have even vowed to roll back many of Macron's key reforms and embark on a massive public spending plan that Macron has criticized and warned could have a negative impact on France's financial stability. The coalition also plans to take a tougher stance on international issues, including the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
If no coalition government is possible, France could enter a period of coexistence in which the president and prime minister are elected from different political factions. Or, if the current political impasse continues, calls for new elections to break the deadlock may grow.
