Demonstrations were held on Sunday evening at the call of left-wing parties in several cities in France, including Place la République in Paris. On the activists’ side, shame over the results is mixed with hope for the second round.
ADVERTISEMENTIt was an emotional time yesterday in Paris, when left-wing supporters joined the leaders of the New Popular Front (NFP) at Place de la République during the rally that followed the announcement of the results of the early legislative elections.
A gathering that turned into a massive mobilization against the extreme right.
On Sunday evening, the left-wing coalition came in second in the first round, behind the National Rally (RN). Results that caused some shock among activists.
“I am depressed”confides Eugénie, a 22-year-old Parisian. “I think I’m going to cry. It was either do this [venir manifester]or stay at home and cry. I feel a little ashamed.” A feeling shared by other protesters who decided to join the movement after the results.
Ahead, other supporters of La France Insoumise (LFI) had gathered earlier in the evening to watch the election results. Some were expecting this configuration from the ballot boxes, and say they are now focusing on the second round of the elections, which will be held on July 7.
“I’m scared of what might happen in a week,” says Jeroen Atputharajah, a 21-year-old activist and former local LFI candidate in the Paris suburbs. “But I am combative. We have one week left to catch up, and it is not out of reach.”said to Euronews.
Eyes on the second round
Tara Varma, a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution and an expert on French politics, assesses the results “satisfactory” for the left-wing coalition, which nevertheless remains well behind the extreme right.
“The objective of the left-wing coalition was to get ahead of the RN, but that has not been the case so far”she says.
“The issue is not how we catch up in the first round. It’s what happens in the middle of these two rounds.”believes Sarah Legrain, candidate elected under the banner of the NFP this Sunday, in her Parisian constituency.
“I think that the mobilization and the [forte] participation shows that there are many people who [se joignent au] vote”she continues, “people from disadvantaged neighborhoods and young people… And they are the ones who will determine the result of the second round, and I say to them: give a majority to the new Popular Front.”
The left-wing coalition parties immediately called for a “republican front” against the far right, declaring that they would withdraw candidates who came in third place in the second round, in the case of three-way contests involving an RN candidate.
It remains to be seen what might happen to the Macronist candidates, who came in third place in many constituencies. And the choice of centrist voters, for whom Jean-Luc Mélenchon remains a deterrent.
In this case, any speculation about the reserves of votes seems particularly uncertain. And the presidential coalition, which has seen many personal divisions play out since the dissolution, seems to be acting in a scattered order.
If the Elysée called for a “republican front”, Some ministers, such as Aurore Bergé, called on voters to vote neither for the RN nor for LFI, putting the two political parties on the same footing.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings