French PM Urges Voters to Block Far Right in Upcoming Election

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal made a strong appeal to voters on Sunday, urging them to deny the far-right National Rally (RN) party, led by Marine Le Pen, any support in the second round of voting. This call to action came after the RN secured a win in the first round. Attal warned of the imminent risk that the far-right could achieve an absolute majority, emphasizing the importance of preventing this outcome.

Attal declared the government's "clear objective" to stop the RN from gaining an absolute majority in the National Assembly. To achieve this, he announced that presidential party candidates who finished third would withdraw from the second round, thus consolidating votes against the RN.

In a determined speech on the evening of the first round, Attal highlighted the significance of the election results, which saw Marine Le Pen's party emerge victorious. He reiterated that "not a single vote should go to the National Rally" to prevent the party from obtaining an absolute majority in the Assembly. Attal emphasized that this was not an ordinary evening, as the extreme right was on the brink of power.

"France deserves that we do not hesitate," the Prime Minister stressed, noting that 300 candidates from Ensemble la République qualified for the second round. He called on all voters to ensure that not one vote would go to the National Rally, making his appeal from the Matignon courtyard.

Attal positioned himself firmly against the extreme right's agenda, emphasizing the need for responsible voting to prevent the RN from gaining power. He announced that in certain constituencies, the presidential party candidates would withdraw to avoid splitting the vote, which could otherwise result in a National Rally MP being elected.

Estimates by the Elabe Institute for BFMTV, RMC, and La Tribune Dimanche indicate that the National Rally garnered 33% of the vote in the first round, putting them in a position to potentially secure an absolute majority with a projected 255 to 295 seats. In comparison, the presidential coalition, Together for the Republic, received 22% of the vote.

On the night of the first round, President Emmanuel Macron called for a "large, clearly Democratic and Republican gathering for the second round" to counter the RN. Macron highlighted the high voter turnout as a testament to the importance of the elections and the public's desire to clarify the political landscape. He emphasized that this democratic choice was a responsibility that needed to be honored.

Why This Matters: The French legislative elections are a critical juncture that could significantly shift the political landscape. The rise of the far right poses a challenge to the current administration and its values, making the outcome of the second round crucial for the future direction of the country.

Key Takeaways

• French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal urges voters to prevent the far-right National Rally from gaining power.
• The National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen, won the first round with 33% of the vote.
• Attal announced that presidential party candidates in third place would withdraw in the second round to consolidate votes against the RN.
• President Emmanuel Macron calls for a Democratic and Republican alliance in the second round.
• The elections hold significant implications for France's political future.