Macron camp announces withdrawal of own candidates
After the strong performance of the French Right-wing populists, the Macron camp and the Left have announced a withdrawal of their third-placed candidates in the second round of the presidential election. The Republicans have decided against endorsing a candidate.
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced after the success of the Right-wing populists that about 60 candidates from the government camp would withdraw in the second round to prevent the victory of Right-wing populist candidates. "No vote should go to the Rassemblement National," Attal said in Paris in the evening. "The lesson of tonight is: The extreme right is at the threshold of power," he added. He wanted to prevent their absolute majority and hoped instead for "a National Assembly where we have enough weight to create majorities for projects and ideas with the Republican forces," he emphasized.
In the first round of the advanced parliamentary election, the Right-wing populists of the Rassemblement National (RN) are in the lead with approximately 34 percent in the projections. The camp of President Emmanuel Macron is in third place with approximately 20 percent. For the distribution of the 577 seats in the National Assembly, it is crucial how many candidates withdraw in the second round to prevent the victory of an RN candidate.
Republicans: We leave the election to the French
The French Republicans (LR) will not withdraw their candidates in the second round of the parliamentary election on July 7 like the Left and the Macron camp in certain constituencies. The LR leadership announced this in a statement in the evening. There will also be no endorsement in constituencies where the party is not present in the second round. "We leave it to the French to express themselves according to their conscience," it was stated. "Macronism is dead."
The controversial chairman of the Républicains, Éric Ciotti, called on all conservatives to join his controversial alliance with the Rassemblement National. "The victory is in sight tonight," Ciotti said after the strong performance of the RN and the Républicains candidates who had decided to support the RN. "This result is a great success. The French have expressed their desire for change and a shift with their votes."
Left-wing populists ready to withdraw
Previously, the left-wing populist party La France Insoumise (LFI) had announced that its candidates would withdraw in certain constituencies. In constituencies where LFI came in third place and the Rassemblement National (RN) was in first, LFI candidates would withdraw, LFI leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon announced in the evening.
"We will not allow the RN a single victory," Mélenchon emphasized. "Our endorsement is simple, direct, and clear: No vote, no seat more for the RN," he added. Mélenchon described the election as "a heavy and undeniable defeat" for President Emmanuel Macron.
- Despite the Macron camp and the Republicans choosing not to endorse candidates in some areas to prevent the Rassemblement National's victory in the second round of parliamentary elections, the French Republicans (LR) have decided to stand their ground and not withdraw their candidates.
- In a move to hinder the Rassemblement National's success, left-wing populist party La France Insoumise (LFI) has announced that in constituencies where they come in third place and the RN is in first, LFI candidates will withdraw.
