French far‑right faces tough battle for parliamentary majority

The chances for the French far-right to achieve an absolute majority remain uncertain. According to a poll by Harris Interactive, the National Rally can expect to secure between 190 and 220 seats, while 289 are needed for a majority.

The National Rally achieved its best result in the first round of the parliamentary elections in France. However, this is not the end of the road. The top candidates will compete for seats in the second round next weekend.

This poll was published on Wednesday by the weekly "Challenges." The estimated 220 seats are "far from the majority of 289 deputies needed for Jordan Bardella (leader of the National Rally) to assume the office of prime minister", emphasized the weekly.

The New People's Front (NFP), an alliance of left-wing parties, ranks second in the poll. It could gain between 159 and 183 seats. Centrist parties gathered around President Emmanuel Macron can expect 110 and 135 seats in the National Assembly (the lower house of parliament).

This data was announced after the NFP and centrist parties agreed on a strategy to create a "republican front" against the far-right. This strategy involves withdrawing some candidates before the second round to leave the field open for the one with the best chance of defeating the National Rally politician in a given electoral district.

As "Challenges" assesses, this strategy "seems to be bearing fruit" and could rule out the prospect of the National Rally gaining an absolute majority in the second round of elections on July 7.

The survey was conducted for "Challenges", the M6 television channel, and RTL radio.