Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates of the following headlines?

French Election Candidates Withdraw To Block Far Right

POSTED ON July 3, 2024 •   Politics      BY Benedicta Bassey
French Election poster/ Photo credit: BBC

The deadline for declarations in the French elections ended on Tuesday, with large numbers of left and centre candidates standing aside in order to try to block the far-right National Rally (RN)
Parties had till 18:00 local time (17:00 GMT) to register contenders for Sunday’s second round of parliamentary elections.

With no official list yet released, French media reported that between 214 and 218 third-placed contenders had pulled out of the race in their constituencies. It means there will now be around 108 three-way races, instead of just over 300.

The rest will be two-way run-offs, apart from two constituencies where four candidates qualified.

Last Sunday’s first round produced a big victory for the party of Marine Le Pen, which, with allies won around 33% of the vote.
A broad left-wing alliance came second, and President Emmanuel Macron’s centrists came third.

But Ms Le Pen’s chances of winning an outright majority in the 577-seat National Assembly have been dented by the blocking tactics of her party’s enemies.

Where third-placed centre or left candidates pull out, the anti-RN vote is focused on a single candidate, making victory easier over the RN contender.

The leftwing New Popular Front (NPF) – which comprises everyone from centre-left social democrats to far-left anti-capitalists – issued instructions to all of its third-placed candidates to step down and let a centrist reap the anti-RN vote.

The NPF is thus helping two senior pro-Macron MPs – former prime minister Elisabeth Borne and Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin – to win in their constituencies in Normandy and the north.

Conversely a pro-Macron candidate has stood down in order to help radical leftwinger François Ruffin defeat the RN candidate in the northern city of Amiens.

The RN’s 28 year-old president and hopeful for prime minister Jordan Bardella condemned the arrangements as the fruit of an “alliance of dishonour” between parties that had until now been at each other’s throats.

Instructions to candidates from Macron’s centrist bloc have been more ambiguous than the NPF’s.

Though Macron himself and Prime Minister Gabriel Attal have called for “no vote for the RN”, some in his camp believe its far-left component makes the NPF equally unpalatable.

Senior figures like Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire and former prime minister Edouard Philippe – both originally from the centre-right – are refusing to issue instructions to vote systematically against the RN.

RN leaders have said they will not attempt to form a government unless they are given an outright majority in the parliament in Sunday’s vote. 

However on Tuesday Marine Le Pen appeared to qualify this, when she said that a lower majority would be good enough – if it does not fall too far short of the 289 member threshold.

Speaking on French radio, she said that winning around 270 deputies would allow her party to open talks with individual MPs from other groups in the hope of persuading them into an accord.

“We are going to say to them: 'Are you ready to participate with us in a new majority? Are you ready to vote a confidence motion? Are you ready to vote for the budget?', she said."

If the RN wins an absolute majority on Sunday, Bardella would be asked by President Macron to form a government – and there would then begin a tense period of “cohabitation” between two political enemies.

Under the French Fifth Republic constitution, power would flow away from Macron to the prime minister’s office because “the government determines and conducts the policy of the nation”.

However, Macron would probably seek to retain powers in the areas of foreign policy and defence, which from precedent – and not from the actual wording of the constitution – have remained the preserve of the Elysée in past cohabitations.

READ ALSO
APC caution Cross River members against unauthorize legal suits
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 1, 2025 0

RIVERS, Nigeria - The cross Rivers chapter of the All Progressives Congress has wa...

READ ALSO
SERAP urges withdrawal of bill targeting Non-Voters in Nigeria
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara March 31, 2025 0

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has appealed to Senate President Godswi...

READ ALSO
Amid doubts and challenges,Tinubu celebrates 73rd birthday with gratitude to Nigerians
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara March 30, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu shared that he nearly abandoned his presidential ambitions for 2023 due to a m...

READ ALSO
Senate set to prioritize Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bills after recess
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara March 30, 2025 0

The Senate is poised to prioritize the evaluation and approval of President Bola Tinubu’s tax...

READ ALSO
Proposed Age Limit Sparks Outcry Among Political Parties
BY Suleiman Jimoh March 28, 2025 0

In a move that has ignited widespread criticism and debate, Nigeria's House of Representatives recen...

READ ALSO
Nigeria, Canada forge new Aviation ties with bilateral Air services agreement
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara March 26, 2025 0

ABUJA, Nigeria - In a notable achievement for the aviation sector, the Minister of Aviation and Aero...

READ ALSO
FG sets August deadline for irregular migrants to regularize status
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara March 26, 2025 0

ABUJA, Nigeria - The Federal Government has revealed its intention to enforce stricter measures agai...

READ ALSO
Nigerian leaders call for urgent democratic reforms amid concerns of systemic failure
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara March 25, 2025 0

ABUJA,Nigeria - Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo; Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate for the 202...

OUR CHANNELS:

OpenAI valuation hits $300 billion after SoftBank-led fund
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 2, 2025 0

The Japanese telecommunications company, alongside a group of investors, has recently announced yet...


Fuel prices expect to fall below N750 by Year-End - NIPSS
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 2, 2025 0

The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) has said that with Dangote Refinery...


Nigeria imposes N20m fine, 10-Year Jail Term for Ponzi scheme offenders
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 2, 2025 0

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has stated that promoters and operators of Ponzi scheme...


South Korea launches second phase of educational initiative in Ekiti smart school
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 2, 2025 0

EKITI, Nigeria - The South Korean government is poised to initiate the second phase of its education...


NFF denies resignation rumors surrounding Super Eagles coach
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has refuted claims that Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle is cons...


CPPE raises concerns over proposed ban on solar panel imports amid Nigeria's energy crisis
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 2, 2025 0

The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has raised alarms regarding the government...


Kano praises Emir Sanusi II’s leadership qualities in reinstatement ceremony
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

KANO, Nigeria - Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has stated that his government reinstated Khalifa Muhammad...


CBN's strategic policies lead to significant increase in Nigeria's Net FX reserves
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

Nigeria's net foreign exchange reserves (NFER) stood at $23.11 billion at the conclusion of the prev...


Adeyeye urges capital punishment for drug traffickers amidst N1trn confiscation
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

The ongoing fight against counterfeit and substandard medical products by the National Agency for Fo...


FG highlights need for data sharing, collaboration to tackle border crimes
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 2, 2025 0

Nigeria has called for cooperation with Sahel and West African nations regarding information and dat...


More Articles

Load more...

Menu