You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in French. (June 2024) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
An early legislative election is expected to be held in France in two rounds on 30 June and 7 July 2024, to elect the 577 members of the 17th National Assembly of the Fifth French Republic. This follows President Emmanuel Macron's decision to call a snap legislative election after the results of the 2024 European Parliament election were announced in which his L'Europe Ensemble suffered a heavy defeat to the far-right National Rally.[1]
| ||||||
All 577 seats in the National Assembly 289 seats needed for a majority | ||||||
|
Background edit
Following the 2022 legislative election, Ensemble lost its absolute majority in the National Assembly. Among the member parties of the coalition was President Emmanuel Macron's party, Renaissance (formerly La République En Marche!) – for the first time since 1997, the incumbent president failed to have an absolute majority in the National Assembly. Meanwhile the two main opposition blocs, the left-wing New Ecological and Social People's Union (NUPES) and populist right-wing National Rally (RN), saw a major surge in seats won. Despite that, no group won the absolute majority, resulting in a hung parliament for the first time since 1988.[2]
On 9 June 2024, shortly after 21:00 CET, Emmanuel Macron dissolved parliament and called for snap parliamentary elections in a national address following exit polls that indicated that the Renaissance party would be significantly eclipsed by the National Rally in votes for France's European Parliament elections. In his address, he called the rise of nationalism by agitators a threat to France, Europe, and France's place in the world. He also decried the far right as the "impoverishment of the French people and the downfall of our country". The first round of elections are scheduled for 30 June, and a second round for 7 July.[3]
National Rally leader Jordan Bardella called the disparity a "stinging disavowal" of Macron, calling for him to dissolve parliament in the wake of the defeat he called "Day 1 of the post-Macron era".[4] Marine Le Pen and leader of La France Insoumise Jean-Luc Mélenchon celebrated the poll results and welcomed the call for snap elections.[3]
The decision to hold an election came as a surprise, and was considered risky. Some suggested that Macron wished to force a decision between the National Rally and their opposition, others that Macron intended to win a majority. The decision was criticized by members of several political parties, with the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, expressing concerns about its effects on the upcoming Olympics.[5][6]
Campaign edit
Far-left politician François Ruffin called on all left-wing parties, including the Greens, to form a “Popular front” in order to avoid the "worst" outcome.[7] Calls for unity were also shared by Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure, Greens leader Marine Tondelier and French Communist Party leader Fabien Roussel.[8] The New Popular Front was established on 10 June.[9]
This section needs expansion with: Reconquête. You can help by adding to it. |
The president of The Republicans, Éric Ciotti, spoke in favor of an alliance with the National Rally during an 11 June interview with the French channel TF1. Olivier Marleix, the head of the party in the National Assembly, called for Ciotti's resignation in response.[10] On 12 June, The Republicans' political committee voted unanimously to remove Ciotti as its president. However, the latter rejected the decision, calling it "a flagrant violation of our statutes" that was illegal and void.[11]
On 12 June, Macron said that he had called the election to prevent a far-right victory in the 2027 presidential election. He criticised The Republicans for its alliance with the National Rally, as well as the New Popular Front, and urged all parties “able to say no to extremes” to unite.[12]
Electoral system edit
The 577 members of the National Assembly, known as deputies, are elected for five years by a two-round system in single-member constituencies. A candidate who receives an absolute majority of valid votes and a vote total greater than 25% of the registered electorate is elected in the first round. If no candidate reaches this threshold, a runoff election is held between the top two candidates plus any other candidate who received a vote total greater than 12.5% of registered voters. The candidate who receives the most votes in the second round is elected.[13]
Political parties and coalitions edit
Opinion polls edit
Graphical summary edit
Results edit
Results by constituency edit
See also edit
Notes edit
References edit
- ^ "President Emmanuel Macron dissolves French National Assembly and calls snap election". Sky News. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ Bernard, Mathias. "Parliamentary elections shock France's political order to its core". The Conversation. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
- ^ a b "French President Macron dissolves parliament, calls snap elections". euronews. 9 June 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ Kennedy, Niamh; Edwards, Christian (9 June 2024). "Macron calls snap parliamentary election after crushing loss to far-right in European election poll". CNN. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ Henley, Jon (10 June 2024). "Three possible outcomes of Macron's shocking snap election". the Guardian. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ Jones, Sam; Henley, Jon; Rankin, Jennifer; O'Carroll, Lisa (10 June 2024). "French parties hold emergency talks with possible allies for snap election". the Guardian. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ "Macron dissolves the French parliament and calls a snap election after defeat in EU vote". Associated Press. 9 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ "'Win together or lose separately?': French left calls for unity ahead of snap elections". France 24. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ Garnier, Hugues (10 June 2024). "Programme, candidature unique... Les partis de gauche appellent à créer un "nouveau Front populaire"". BFMTV (in French). Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "France's Republicans leader wants to form 'alliance' with Le Pen's NR". Al Jazeera. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ "France's rightwing Les Républicains vote out leader Éric Ciotti over election pact with far right". France 24. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "Macron says he called snap elections to prevent rise of far right in 2027 presidential vote". France 24. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "Elections: France National Assembly 2017 (first round)". Election Guide. International Foundation for Electoral Systems. 11 June 2017. Archived from the original on 15 August 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2022.