France’s rapid election campaign has concluded, and despite urgent appeals to avoid supporting the far right, voters seem poised to grant the National Rally party a historic victory in parliamentary elections. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal cautioned that such a result would trigger “impulses of hate and aggression.”
However, the party led by Marine Le Pen and 28-year-old Jordan Bardella, who might become the next prime minister, has solidified its lead in opinion polls. National Rally has successfully deflected numerous accusations of racism from both party members and supporters. The pressing question now is whether it can secure an absolute majority in the two rounds of voting over the next two Sundays.
They have a significant chance after the European elections on 9 June turned most of France’s electoral map dark blue. That was when Emmanuel Macron stunned the French people by calling a general election in just three weeks.
National Rally (RN) is preparing for a big night on Sunday, with a final opinion poll showing support at 36.5%. Its candidates aim to win dozens of seats in the National Assembly outright, with more than 50% of the vote. However, most seats will be decided in run-off votes on 7 July, featuring two, three, or even four contenders.
Opinion polls do not tell the whole story, and a hastily arranged left-wing alliance, the New Popular Front, is also eyeing victory, trailing RN by only a few points at 29%.
