French elections shake-up: the unexpected triumph and fallout

There was no shortage of surprises in the second round of the French parliamentary elections. During the election campaign, the clear favourite was the National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen.

Let's add that this party won the last European Parliament elections, which was the direct cause of the dissolution of the French parliament by Emmanuel Macron.

The National Rally also won the first round of the French elections and seemed to be on the best path to taking power in France. Ultimately, Marine Le Pen's front won only 143 seats and finished third in the electoral race.

The winner of the elections turned out to be the left-wing New People's Front (led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon). A bloc of over 50 parties and French leftist movements swept 182 seats. In second place was President Emmanuel Macron's camp, which won 168 seats.

We asked the French residents what they think about the elections. Society by the Seine is divided into camps.

I am surprised and disappointed because, in the first round of elections, the National Rally came in first place, and for me and my friends, it was a kind of hope for good changes in France - says Jeremy Gauthier, who lives with his family near Paris, in an interview with o2.pl.

The man adds that, according to him, "dark times are coming for France." He also criticizes the leader of the leftist faction.

Mélenchon is a bit unpredictable for me, a man who said that "one dead policeman is one less vote for Bardella." This is unacceptable. Then he explained: "it was just a joke." For me, it is not funny. I fear that Mélenchon's priority will not be people like me, who work hard and pay taxes, but strangers - Gauthier tells us.

According to the resident of the Paris suburb, "Mélenchon wants to disarm the police, and drug dealers may take over the streets in France."

62-year-old Guillaume presents an entirely different vision. The man who lives in southern France "breathed a sigh of relief" after the elections.

My wife and I breathed a sigh of relief. The French did not fall for the populists. What will happen now? It’s hard to say. For me, the most important thing is that Le Pen and Bardella will not govern - he briefly tells o2.pl.

Let's add that the question of the French premiership is still open. Jean-Luc Mélenchon wants to form a government. The leader of the French left has appealed to Emmanuel Macron to appoint him as prime minister.

However, the French president will not be inclined to cooperate so far-reachingly with the New People's Front. Macron's bloc politicians have already stated that "no one can feel like a winner of the election" and that "the radically left Unsubmissive France (LFI) leader Jean-Luc Melenchon under no circumstances can govern the country."

Appointing a new prime minister of the French government may take some time. How long? There is no final date. What is certain, however, is that it will be a time of intense coalition talks. The left-wing bloc does not have a sufficient majority to govern France alone.