Rassemblement National wants to govern even without a majority
Previously, the position of the French right-wing populists of the Rassemblement National (RN) was clear: They would only form a government with an absolute majority, party leader Bardella repeatedly emphasized. However, different tunes are now being heard from his predecessor Le Pen.
The French right-wing populists of the RN want to form a government without an absolute majority. In their cabinet, supporters from other parties and representatives of civil society should be involved, former party leader Marine Le Pen told the broadcaster France Inter. "It will be a competent government," she emphasized. "If we get a majority, then of course we will do what the voters have elected us for."
Le Pen is thus distancing herself from the previous position of party leader Jordan Bardella, who had only wanted to take on the premiership in the event of an absolute majority. "If we have approximately 270 seats and still need 19 deputies, then we will approach others," Le Pen said. "Several right-wing, but also left-wing deputies have shown a proximity to our positions."
Meanwhile, a candidate of the RN has withdrawn her participation in the second round of voting, after a photo of her with a Nazi-era Schirmmütze (parasol) of the Luftwaffe with a swastika was made public. The photo, published by the broadcaster France Bleu, comes from a non-accessible Facebook profile of candidate Ludivine Daoudi. She came in second place in the first round of voting in the northern French department of Calvados with 20%.
Another RN candidate risks not taking up his mandate if he wins in the second round, as he has a legal guardian due to psychological problems. The 65-year-old came in second place in the western French department of Jura with 33%. People under guardianship are not allowed to vote. Neither the affected person nor the party wanted to comment on this when asked.
In the upcoming runoff election on Sunday, the distribution of seats in the National Assembly will be decided. For an absolute majority, 289 of the 577 seats are necessary. The right-wing populists were in the lead in 297 constituencies in the first round. The effects of the withdrawal of several candidates in constituencies where three candidates made it through to the second round are still unclear.
The previous stance of RN's party leader Bardella was to form a government only with an absolute majority. However, Marine Le Pen, a former party leader, has proposed a shift, suggesting a potential government that includes supporters from other parties and representatives of civil society, even without an absolute majority. Le Pen also mentioned the possibility of approaching right-wing and left-wing deputies if necessary, as the RN might fall short of the absolute majority by about 19 seats.
