The recent French parliamentary elections have had a significant impact on far right voters, with many feeling that victory was stolen from them through what they perceive as dirty tricks. The far right Rassemblement National (RN) party came in third, behind left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) and President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist Ensemble alliance. The disappointment among far right voters is palpable, with many expressing hopes for change and a new RN government.
One of the key factors contributing to the RN’s defeat was tactical withdrawals by other political parties to concentrate the anti-far right vote. RN president Jordan Bardella claimed that the party only lost due to a united effort by various parties across the political spectrum. This sense of being blocked from winning by trickery has resonated among RN supporters, who feel that the party was unfairly prevented from achieving victory.
Despite increasing its number of MPs from 89 to 143, the RN suffered what many described as a “huge defeat,” given the high expectations of potentially appointing a prime minister and governing France for the first time in the party’s history. However, party leader Marine Le Pen remains optimistic, stating that victory for the RN has been “merely deferred.”
The defeat of candidates like Grégoire de Fournas, who has faced controversy for making racially charged remarks, has been celebrated by many in France who believe in a more inclusive society where cultures can coexist. The outcome of the elections reflects a divided political landscape in France and highlights the ongoing tensions between different ideological camps in the country.
