The New Popular Front (NFP), a newly formed left-wing coalition, has made history by winning in France’s second round of snap parliamentary elections which was held on Sunday. However, the party fell well short of the 289-seat threshold for an absolute majority.

The New Popular Front (NPF) is a spectrum of parties from centre-left to left-wing, encompassing the Socialists, Greens, Communists, and the radical left France Unbowed (LFI). 

Despite past criticisms and ideological differences among these parties, they joined forces to block the far-right from gaining governmental control after President Emmanuel Macron announced the election on June 9th.

The outcome of Sunday’s second-round election reveals that the left-wing New Popular Front (NPF) secured 182 seats, while President Emmanuel Macron-centrist Together Alliance followed closely with 163 seats. The far-right party finished in a distant third position with 143 seats.

In the initial round of the election, the far-right and its allies initially held a significant advantage but were ultimately frustrated by extensive tactical voting aimed at preventing them from securing sufficient seats to establish a government.

Despite winning the most seats, the left alliance fell more than 100 seats short of an absolute majority. With a high estimated turnout of around 67 per cent, no single party secured the absolute majority of 289 seats to form a government on its own.

The BBC reports that ‘’The far-right National Rally, which had come out top in round one a week ago, fell to third place.

The NFP managed such a remarkable comeback thanks to a concerted effort by left-wing and centrist parties, which saw candidates withdraw from three-way races to concentrate the anti-RN vote. This occurred in around 200 constituencies and changed the outcome of the election’’.

What next for the NFP?

The NFP has prevented the far right from potentially seizing power, its members face the challenge of uniting to effectively collaborate in the National Assembly. 

Despite initial unity in preventing a far-right majority, divisions have emerged among NFP leaders in their approach to the post-election phase. 

With no outright majority, some on the left argue that the NFP will need to seek support from other parties, possibly including President Macron’s Ensemble alliance.

Raphaël Glucksmann, a prominent figure in the Socialist Party, emphasizes the need for cooperation and deal-making among political opponents.

François Hollande, a former Socialist president now elected as an MP, acknowledges the difficulty but suggests exploring alliances with other groups.

In contrast, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of France Unbowed (LFI), rejects collaboration with Macron’s camp and advocates for the NFP to have the autonomy to nominate its prime minister and govern independently.

 Luiz da Silva, Brazil’s President expressed his joy on Twitter over the collaboration of leftist and centrist political forces in the NFP, praising their demonstration of unity and maturity that frustrated the far right from winning the election.

He wrote: “This result, as well as the victory of the Labour party in the United Kingdom, reinforces the importance of dialogue between progressive segments in defence of democracy and social justice. They should serve as an inspiration for South America.”