From blocs to ‘cohabitation’, French officials react to far-right win
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The same elections that Macron called for have dealt his party yet another blow.
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Leader of the French far-right National Rally Marine Le Pen and her protégé Jordan Bardella during a meeting on June 2 in Paris. (AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron called for a "broad" democratic alliance against the far-right after the National Rally party won the first round of the legislative elections.
France's far-right emerged Sunday victorious in the first round of pivotal legislative elections, with President Emmanuel Macron's centrist forces trailing in third place behind the left, following the highest voter turnout in over four decades, according to estimates.
However, it remains uncertain whether Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN) party will secure an absolute majority in the new National Assembly in the July 7 second round and secure the prime minister's position.
Macron had called for snap elections after the RN overwhelmingly defeated his centrist forces in the European Parliament elections earlier this month.
"Faced with National Rally, the time has come for a broad, clearly democratic and republican alliance for the second round," he said, according to a press release.
Macron also voiced that the high number of those who voted reflected "the importance of this vote for all our compatriots and the desire to clarify the political situation."
'Indisputable' defeat for Macron
Leftist leader Jean-Luc Melechon called Macron's centrist coalition defeat on Sunday a "heavy and indisputable" setback in snap elections, yet urging French citizens to vote against the extreme right.
Melechon, leader of France Unbowed, announced that his party will withdraw candidates from areas where it finished third and the far-right National Rally party is dominating ahead of the second round of parliamentary elections.
"Our instructions are simple, direct and clear. Not one more vote, not one more seat for the RN," Melenchon said.
'Prime minister of all French'
On his part, Jordan Bardella, the head of France's far-right National Rally party, said Sunday he wants to be the "prime minister of all French" if his party gains absolute majority in the second round of elections.
Bardella, 28, expressed that the French people "have handed down a clear verdict" following his party's victory in the first round of snap parliamentary elections. He stated that he wished to be the prime minister "of all French" who respects the constitution in a "cohabitation" with President Emmanuel Macron while being "uncompromising".
His statement was supported by Marine Le Pen, France's veteran far-right leader, who said Sunday that voters needed to give the National Rally an absolute majority so that Bardella could become prime minister.
Le Pen told supporters after the RN came out on top in the first round of polls that "nothing is won and the second round is decisive," adding, "We need an absolute majority so that Jordan Bardella is in eight days named prime minister by (President) Emmanuel Macron."
She described Macron's camp as being "almost wiped out" during the first round of elections.
Former French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe expressed he was against voting for either the RN or France's Unbowed parties, believing that things need to be rebuilt around the center and conservative right wing.
French Socialist politician Olivier Faure, from the New Popular Front coalition, called for the withdrawal of Socialist candidates if they are unlikely to beat the far-right in the second round.
