Micron Avoided Disaster, weakened

French President Macron called snap election to national Parliament election to break momentum generated by Le Pen’s far-right National Rally’s (NR) victory in the European Union Parliament election.  In that election, NR’s vote was more than twice that of Macron’s ENS alliance, as shown in the first two columns in the following table:

NR seems heading for victory until the first run of voting was counted.  Facing the possibility of a far-right majority, Macron’s centrist alliance and the left parties made joint efforts to contest such possibility.  They presented only one candidate to fight with the far right.  As a result, the left alliance obtained the most seats in parliament, but short of a majority.  NR got the third position. 

Now, Macron must negotiate with the left to form a government.  How left?  The government is likely to be weak, unable to institute reforms or pass legislation.

Macron has avoided disaster.

French President Macron called snap election to national Parliament election to break momentum generated by Le Pen’s far-right National Rally’s (NR) victory in the European Union Parliament election.  In that election, NR’s vote was more than twice that of Macron’s ENS alliance, as shown in the first two columns in the following table:

NR seems heading for victory until the first run of voting was counted.  Facing the possibility of a far-right majority, Macron’s centrist alliance and the left parties made joint efforts to contest such possibility.  They presented only one candidate to fight with the far right.  As a result, the left alliance obtained the most seats in parliament, but short of a majority.  NR got the third position. 

Now, Macron must negotiate with the left to form a government.  How left?  The government is likely to be weak, unable to institute reforms or pass legislation.

Macron has avoided disaster.