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Editorial: El País

July 2, 2024

  • The legislative elections in France resulted in a double defeat for President Emmanuel Macron.
  • His candidacy, Ensemble, only obtained 20% of the votes, placing it third.
  • The early elections, a failed bet by Macron, greatly contributed to this defeat.
  • As a result, Macron will have to deal with a blocked Parliament and potentially an antagonistic government.
  • Macron, who since taking office in 2017 sought to prevent a rise of the far right, is now closer than ever to this scenario.
  • The defeat of the centrist and Europeanist forces and the possibility of the National Rally (RN) ruling mark an undeniable failure for Macron.
  • Despite this setback, the French president still has three legal years of his term, during which he could try to rescue his legacy.
  • The immediate goal for Macron and other “Democrats and Republicans” is to prevent the RN from achieving an absolute majority in the second round of elections.

Conclusion: Macron's first serious electoral defeat underscores a political crisis in France that could lead to a greater rise of the far right if decisive measures are not taken.