Louis de Raguenel / Photo credit: AFP
09:22, July 01, 2024
While the National Rally obtained 33% of the votes in the first round of the legislative elections, the union of the left and the majority are calling for a blockade. Withdrawals by left-wing and Macronist candidates are expected to take place, but will their voters follow the voting instructions?
How to stem the blue navy wave? Since Sunday evening, there has been a commotion at the Élysée and Matignon. The head of state wanted clarification, and he has it. This morning, the RN and its allies are on the verge of power, after obtaining 33% of the vote, according to the almost final figures from the Ministry of the Interior. The second-round projections give it between 240 and 270 seats. It is not yet an absolute majority, but the watchword has already been given.
Withdrawals of left-wing and Macronist candidates
From the Socialist Party to La France Insoumise via Gabriel Attal, the official order can be summed up as “anything but the RN”, do everything to prevent the National Rally from obtaining an absolute majority. On Sunday evening, in order to appease left-wing voters, the government announced the suspension of the unemployment insurance reform. Then, Horizon, Édouard Philippe’s party, adds a little nuance: “Anything but the RN and La France Insoumise”. Only Les Républicains let their voters free to vote.
Concretely, this should in theory result in withdrawals of left-wing and Macronist candidates in the constituencies in which the RN came out on top in order to prevent as many of Marine Le Pen’s candidates as possible from winning. But in reality, many Macronists do not want to implement this strategy.
Finally, we have observed for around ten years that voters no longer want to follow voting instructions. The verdict will be given next Sunday during the second round.
