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THE NEW POPULAR FRONT left alliance has come out on top in the second round of voting in the French parliamentary elections, winning a predicted 172-192 seats in the National Assembly, according to projections.
President Emmanuel Macron’s Ensemble group is set to win 150-170 seats. The far-right alliance dominated by the National Rally came in third place with a projected 132-152 seats, while the conservative Republicans are predicted to win between 57 and 67 seats.
No group has won an outright majority, which requires at least 289 of the Assembly’s 577 seats.
The victory for the French left over the National Rally (RN) means France has decided against being governed by the far-right, something polls and the first round vote had indicated was a distinct possibility.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of the largest party in the NFP, called on Prime Minister Gabriel Attal to resign in his victory speech.
“Our people have clearly rejected the worst-case scenario,” said the three-time presidential candidate of the France Unbowed party. “The prime minister has to go… The New Popular Front is ready to govern.”
Prime Minister Attal has since said that he will offer Macron his resignation tomorrow.
But he added that, if his resignation is refused, he was ready to remain in office “as long as duty demands”, with the Paris Olympics due to begin in three weeks.
It is unclear who might be the left alliance’s top candidate to be prime minister, with Melenchon a divisive figure even among some supporters of his own party.
The leader of the Socialist Party (PS) Olivier Faure urged “democracy” within the left-wing alliance so they could work together.
“To move forward together we need democracy within our ranks,” he said.
“No outside remarks will come and impose themselves on us,” he said in a thinly veiled criticism of Melenchon.
Raphael Glucksmann, co-president of the smaller pro-European Place Publique party in the alliance, said everyone was going to have to “behave like adults”.
In the projections, “we’re ahead, but in a divided parliament… so people are going to have to behave like adults,” he said.
“People are going to have to talk to each other.”
Nous avons arraché un résultat qu'on nous disait impossible.
— Jean-Luc Mélenchon (@JLMelenchon) July 7, 2024
Notre peuple a clairement refusé la solution du pire pour lui. Le RN est loin de la majorité absolue que certains lui prédisaient.
C'est un immense soulagement pour la Nouvelle France.#ElectionsLegislatives2024 pic.twitter.com/atALba1kR3
Today’s second round of voting saw another large turnout, with almost 60% of the electorate having cast their votes by 5pm local time today, putting it on track to be the highest in four decades.
The mood in France has been tense, with 30,000 police deployed to head off trouble and many voters worrying over the outcome of the election.
There were scenes of jubilation on the streets of Paris when the projections, which are based on samples of ballots, were announced.
The snap National Assembly elections were called by President Emmanuel Macron following a decisive defeat to the RN in European Parliamentary elections last month, to the shock of many of his supporters and colleagues.
The NFP was quickly formed following Macron’s shock dissolution of the National Assembly and is composed of parties from the Communists and France Unbowed on the left and the Socialists, who are the traditional centre-left party. The grouping also includes the Green Party.
Following the RN’s success in the first round, political parties on the far left and in the centre had formed what is known as a Republican Front, withdrawing candidates from three-way races in today’s second round, with the aim of keeping far-right candidates out.
RN party leader Jordan Bardella slammed “an alliance of dishonour” between President Emmanuel Macron’s centrists and the left.
While hailing the “most important breakthrough of all its (the RN’s) history”, he told supporters that “these electoral pacts have thrown France into the arms of the extreme left.”
The party’s three-time presidential candidate Marine Le Pen said the RN’s rise to power had only been “delayed.”
“The tide is rising. It did not rise high enough this time, but it continues to rise and, consequently, our victory has only been delayed,” Le Pen said.
The NFP has promised to increase taxes on the wealthy and introduce taxes on windfall profits for businesses, with the aim of reversing Macron’s increase to the retirement age and funding social services.
The centre-left influence can be seen in the area of foreign policy, where the group says it will maintain support for Ukraine.
The NFP has said it wants a “total break” from Macron’s economic policies.
The alliance of parties on the left has pledged to raise €30 billion a year from taxing businesses and the rich, promising to use the money to reverse Macron’s deeply unpopular pension reform that raised the retirement age from 62 to 64.
The group wants to increase benefits and civil service wages, impose price controls on some essential goods, lower the retirement age to 60 and index pensions to wages. They also want to increase the minimum wage by 15%.
The alliance aims to bring in the €30 billion from its new tax policies.
With reporting from AFP
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There are such horrible delusional $cumbags roaming this earth
@Mel Fitzpatrick: I believe the majority of people just want to live their lives in peace around the world, There will always be headcases that don’t like life or living it.Sympathies to the families involved.
@Mel Fitzpatrick:
If an attack of the scale of the attack in the Bataclan occurred in Ireland, the Garda, including the response unit would be unable to cope. The hospitals are so severely underfunded that a very large proportion of the wounded would die without treatment.
Eventually this madness will come to Ireland as well. We are not prepared and are very nieve about what we will be dealing with.
@Enda Ireland: Then there are those who quite like life but don’t want to live ‘in peace’ – they quite like being paedophiles, rapists, murderers, torturers, genocidal jihadists etc.
@Andrea Brown:
Jesus, your a bundle of joy this afternoon.
Hang over kicking in?
@alan it’s called being realistic. You prefer to bury your head in the ground like our government?
@Mel Fitzpatrick: Unfortunately when you have far-right nationalist regimes like Erdogan’s in power, it inevitably leads to instability.
terrible crime committed by terrible people
deepest sympathies to all involved
What limescale red thumb these comments? And why don’t they have balls show who they are and comment and give their rationale?
It’s the Journal Chris…build an bridge and get over it !
@Chris Finn: sickos is what they are chris. but entitled to their opinion.
I don’t know what makes people think something like this will never happen in Ireland.
Something like this has happened in Ireland…several times…
@goon4life: Where and when?
@Eamon Are you serious?? Are you 10 years old and never heard or read about the troubles??
The 1994 World Cup massacre of Irish fans by British terrorists.
@Jonny Irish: Stick to the topic, we’re not talking about the Troubles, we’re talking about Islamic terrorism.
It was you who made the assertion and now that you’ve been called out for your inane comment you’re desperately trying to qualify the parameters you set yourself…WTF ?
@Boganity: So let me get this straight – because Europe has always had homegrown forms of terrorism we may not object to the additional of another kind – the genocidal jihadist kind? (which is of course actually religious warfare, not terrorism, but anyway…).
@Boganity: Do you miss the Troubles, and think we should import Islamic terrorists?
@Boganity: Eamon and his Islamophobic side-kick Marlowemallow aren’t interested in other forms of terrorism, they’re only obsessed with a certain race of people.
@Joey Westland: Good man Tariq, I see you’re calling yourself “Joey” now.
Wake up Europe this is comming our way. It’s only then our politicians will began to realise we are part of their sick idelogy. Why aren’t the muslems condemning these acts.??. It’s time now we made them answer, so far they have sat quietly ,after all they are all members of the Muslim family. Its past time now for them to clarify what type of world do they really want to live in.Tell the law abiding citizens now and I mean now.
In fairness you ask most normal moderate Muslims they probably would condemn this, no? We probably all need to do a better job of engaging them and giving them a platform, media included. Not sure “it’s time now we made them answer” is the type of language that will lead us all to a lasting peace.
Most decent moderates would condem it and probably have in aome way but Sam makes a good point.
You don’t see them here out marching in the streets against ISIS and islamic extremism. You dont see political groups like AAA-PBP or the left protesting either. They will march against US or Israel but don’t march against ISIS, Syria, Russia or other terror attacks.
@Peedur Dante:
Unfortunately this is the tactic that these types. Create a fake account and throw out these kind of comments. If enough of them are posted it will seem that this is the prevailing thinking around Ireland.
as you have pointed out the fake account above has no actually intelligence, as if they decided to search they would find Muslims condemning all these acts.
@ Stephen Conveney
Unfortunately I agree with you. Which makes it all the more important that sensible people like yourself are around to publicly debate these dangerously ignorant comments. We live in a good Country full of good compassionate people. Let’s not let this poisonous backward rhetoric be see to represent us.
@Toon Army: Yes they do condemn it. They also say, if you bother to ask, that IS has nothing to do with Islam and, if they trust you, some will say that it’s an understandable, if wrong, response to western attacks on Muslims. But it’s what they don’t do that is the problem.
Cork muslims didn’t hand back the mosque funds they got from Qatar. None of them are demanding that their mosques publish audited accounts to show who is funding them and where collections are going. None of them are protesting against their imam in the biggest mosque in Clonskeagh – Halawa. Virtually none – about 25 I think – turned up for Al Qadri’s anti-IS demo a few years ago.
The reality is that many muslims simply take offence at the accusation that IS and very other violent jihadist group are part of Islam. And that’s as far as it goes. Belonging to a religious group is a voluntary choice and they need to start taking a lot more responsibility for the religiously-motivated behaviour of their co-religionists.
@Peedur Dante: “Equating Isis and Islam is moronic. You two really need to start learning a bit more about this situation before spewing your ignorance over the Internet. Many many Muslims have been victims of Isis.”
Isis is not Islam but IS – and every other one of hundreds of jihadist groups globally – are Islamic. So are all the non-jihadist but bigoted and intolerant Islamic fundamentalists. Like the Somali asylum seeker who stormed a stage at a kindergarten play in Austria recently to shout-read from the Quran.
Muslims being victims of jihadists doesn’t make the jihadists non-Islamic. Killing other muslims – who are hypocrites (like being in a nightclub and drinking), murderers, apostates (that’s treason in Islam), blasphemers, adulterers, homosexuals, who have premarital sex or are ‘spreading mischief in the land’ – is perfectly permissible and sometimes required under Islamic law.
The only argument is about whether killing them as collateral damage is acceptable. And about who has authority to carry out those punishments But since there is no central authority in Islam, those who argue that it is permissible can’t be stopped from doing so on theological grounds.
It is your understanding of Islam that is lacking.
Peedur… You’ve got a lot to learn.
@marowmallow
The original poster was blaming these isis attacks on all Muslims. And said something to the effect of we should make them all answer for this. That is a ridiculous statement. Do you support that logic or have you simply failed to follow the argument correctly?
@ canukadango
Thanks so much for your input there, that was a really insightful argument you made there. You must be a luminosity around the dinner table.
@Peedur Dante: No he didn’t blame IS attacks on all muslims. He did incorrectly generalize that no muslims have condemned it. I don’t bother to correct every such over generalization because there’s always some useful idiot around to do that.
And because there’s nothing illegal about such statements, I support free speech, and words on the internet are not what is currently destroying the relative freedom and safety of Europe. The jihadists are doing that.
And of course the useful idiots also always go above and beyond correcting over generalizations by going to the other extreme of pretending that there is no such problem.
He didn’t say make them ‘answer for this’. You’re reading what you want to read. He said they should be required to answer whether or not they condemn these attacks and what kind of world they want to live in. I disagree with that but there is no necessary implication that he was proposing some kind of Spanish Inquisition.
It’s your reading comprehension and motivated interpretation that is the problem.
Now, are any of you ready to talk about the relationship between non-violent muslims and the fundamentalists and jihadists in their community?
@Marlowemallow: “under Islamic law” – to keep the censors off the delete button I should clarify to say that means ‘under most mainstream interpretations of Islamic law’.
@marshmallow
You too seem to be reading into the original post whatever it is that you need to support you’re argument. And as for discussing the relationship between violent and non violent Muslims you are yet to post any concise arguments about that thus far. Care to do so?And as for your underhanded implication that I’m an idiot. Well that’s just childish name calling isn’t it? Doesn’t do much for your argument.
No probs Peedur, I like to give sound advice where it is blatantly required.
@ canucandgo
LOL
@Peedur Dante: On a scale of 1 to 10, just how ‘concise’ would an argument have to be before you would stoop to discussing it? Rhetorical question.
@marshmallow
I don’t really know, you haven’t really stated an argument yet. If you do so I’ll be happy to illuminate you on the subject.
This is the new normal and it’s only a matter of time before it reaches our shores. Merkel wants more of these savages imported into Europe and her little ass donkey Enda will be only to happy to take as many as she pleases. Islam is not compatible with our way of life and value system. Take a stand and say no to this backward death cult.
@John Henry: agree John but you have to walk on eggshells on here particularly when it involves criticism of Islam and Michael O lainn is around theone who seems to have one finger constantly on the report button, you know the Journal run a ridiculous system that if an individual reports your comments 3 times they ban you, they don’t even look at your posts content once you’re reported 3 times they just automatically ban you, so basically if I just hit the report button 3 times and you said nothing but wonderful things you’ll still be banned, go figure?
So if you report Michael OLainn 3 times problem solved, no ?
@john henry
Savages? Are you calling the people that are fleeing the violence of isis savages? That little baby who was washed up on the beach in Turkey, was he a savage too? Look in the mirror, there’s the real savage.
No Peedur the child wasn’t a savage but the eejit of a father who put the family on the boat was a savage
@ Mike
This is the wrong thread for me to argue the details of that particular point with you. So I’m just going to say I disagree with you and leave it at that.
So everyone can just report someone three times and they get banned ? That’s pretty cool ..
Peedur. . Do some research on while you’re gone …
Peedur. . You seem to be a person who thinks you are right on everything and that you know it all . . My mind is clear thank you …
@ susie
Oscar Wilde said, you should never argue with idiots. They’ll drag you down to their level than beat you with experience. This post is about the attacks in Turkey. Let’s try to stay on subject shall we.
Peedur , so because someone disagrees with you they are idiots? correct me if I’m wrong but you were the first person on this thread to bring up the child that died on the beach … you started the topic and didn’t like the replies you received and then quickly tried to shut it down ..
@ susie
That poor child is often used as the face of the problems that we are failing to address with this current immigrant situation.I conjured his image as a way to defend innocent immigrants fleeing a dangerous country in an argument with the original poster who was blaming them as a whole for these recent attacks. I didn’t call you an idiot, I used that quote because the tract of the argument was being taken away from the the narrative of terrorist attacks and immigration and towards the details of that boy and his father. And like I’ve said numerous times at this stage. This is the wrong thread to discuss the details of that sad story.
@Peedur Dante: Well said Peedur, but you won’t convince the local Islamophobes to renounce their hateful views.
@ Joey Westland
Thanks Joey, you’re right convincing them is a bridge too far. But we should try to ensure that their hatred doesn’t dominate forums like these.
@Peedur Dante: Very true, extremely dangerous views and ideologies these individuals are spouting, we must be vigilant.
I suspect that this president’s answer will be to shut down all nightclubs.
@John Bennett:
I think you are not seeing what their actual goal was. I think they knew that the caliphate would never actually survive but they have succeeded in their goal of creating an environment where idiotic muslims that take their religion to extremes will continue to carry out attacks.
@John Bennett: They see themselves as part of a much broader movement that has conquered huge tracts of territory over 1400 years. They’ll take the long view on conquering more.
They’re already winning anyway. Every Ahmadi in the UK who might consider declaring themselves a prophet will now think twice about it. Christians considering visiting an asylum centre in Austria will decide not to so they don’t get stabbed for reading a bible. Everyone who might have written an Islamic Father Ted equivalent is quietly deciding not to. That’s how the most intolerant in any society determine its direction. Not through elections or laws – through force.
He’ll just lock up a few more journalists and a few more political opponents. Any excuse.
EU going to need passport borders whether it its likes or not the isis front line is no longer in aloppo
@Gerard Heery: Citizens with EU passports returning from fighting for IS also need to be dealt with. Lots of those around too. The Swedes are giving them housing and benefits to ‘reintegrate’ them on the basis that by coming back they have “left violent extremism”. There must be something really funny in Swedish water. And of course those EU citizen jihadists are always free to travel to and from Ireland whenever they like.
@Marlowemallow: Another year of hiding under the bed Marlowemallow? The Alt-Right are such whinging Snowflakes.
More human life destroyed and more families ripped apart and all it took was 7 mins of twisted evil hate. RIP all those who died and thoughts with the people who are injured.
39 dead…. Why is the first line ‘Almost 40 dead….’ Sad start to the New Year. (Referring to the terrorist attack)
‘ALMOST FORTY PEOPLE’, correction
Condolences to the dead and injured. My guess is this was an inside political attack against the Erdogan regime pointing to Pkk perhaps. The attackers targetted a nightclub frequented by Istanbuls elite. It was a personalised attack designed to hit hard at the political and diplomatic circle.
@saoirse janneau: It was also probably an attack on foreign nationalists as this particular nightclub is popular with Europeans who live in Istanbul as well as turkish celebrities and football players etc. People usually go there early evening have a meal and then go into the nightclub part. Probably half of the people injured will be foreign nationals seeing as so far the majority of people who died have been identified as foreigners. People heading to the club to celebrate the New Year knew it would be an expensive night but so very sad that it cost some people their lives.
Turkey get the fock out of Syria now
have your say