French parties rushed to meet a deadline to block the far right, while the future of their country’s democracy hangs in the balance.
The candidates for the National Assembly have to react in few hours to register for the second round of Sunday’s early legislative elections or, on the contrary, withdraw.
The centrist party of the French president, Emmanuel Macron, Renaissance and a left coalition, New Popular Frontcon Jean-Luc Melenchonthey maneuver to prevent the far-right National Group seize power in the country’s Parliament after its success in the first round.
A first round has propelled the 28-year-old candidate, from the National Group, Jordan Bardellacloser than ever to becoming Prime Minister. However, the results also leave open the possibility that voters will halt their path to power in Sunday’s runoff.
Candidates from the left and Macron give way for the second round
If elected to the National Assembly, the National Group would be the France’s first far-right government since World War II. More than 150 left-wing or Macronist candidates qualified for the second round of elections have already withdrawn to prevent the extreme right from obtaining a majority.
Marine Le Penwith her sights set on the presidency of France and founder of the National Rally, has urged voters to give her party an absolute majority in the next electoral round next Sunday.
Cécile Alduya far-right researcher and Stanford University professor, said that while Bardella’s lack of experience and even competence should be a factor deterrent for voters, could work in his favor: “There seems to be such a big rejection by Emmanuel Macron and their politics right now that voters think there is an opportunity to change that, to really shake up the system and people who are disaffected by current politics as they were done think: “Well, we haven’t tried this.“.
