French Coalition Shapes Up Against Le Pen in Historic Second Round Elections: Implications for Europe

French President Emmanuel Macron has called for the establishment of a broad democratic coalition after Marine Le Pen’s far-right national party won a decisive victory in the first round of legislative elections. The central alliance of Macron and the “New Popular Front” of the left are considering withdrawing candidates from the second round to keep the far right out of power.

The new Popular Front includes a range of parties from moderate center-left to far-left, Eurosceptic, and anti-NATO party Unyielding France, led by one of Macron’s fiercest opponents. In Sunday’s elections, Le Pen’s National Union party won 34% of the votes, compared to 28.1% for the left bloc and 20.3% for Macron’s presidential bloc.

Fear is rising in the West over Le Pen’s victory and its potential consequences such as dissolving the alliance against Russia. While seen as an unprecedented achievement for Le Pen and her party, it is viewed as discrimination towards Macron.

The upcoming second round of legislative elections will be crucial in determining French politics and have implications for Europe and beyond as Le Pen’s far-right national party gained significant support in the first round.