Paris, The recent European elections and the rise of the far-right have disrupted the political scene in several European countries, most notably France, due to its demographic, political, economic, and strategic significance within the European framework. This suggests that the only option is a government based on the principle of coexistence, composed of multiple parties with different orientations.
Far-right parties achieved significant gains in the European Parliament elections held from June 6 to 9, without upsetting the political balance in Brussels. These parties came first in France, Italy, and Austria, and second in Germany and the Netherlands.
As a result of these outcomes, France is experiencing a profound political shift driven by the increasing gains of the far-right on the political scene. These gains are not limited to changes in the electoral map but have also raised serious questions about the future of democracy and republican principles, which form the foundation of French national identity. As the influence of far-right parties grows, traditional parties face unprecedented challenges in reshaping their strategies and regaining voters’ trust.
Analysts and experts in France have noted that the European election results, which saw a victory for the nationalist right in France, have sparked a double revolution in French political life. They explained, in statements to Qatar News Agency , that the political repercussions of President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to dissolve the National Assembly, despite its boldness, represent a risky political gamble aimed at creating a political shock among voters and public opinion.
Following the European Parliament election results, which saw the far-right achieving a historic victory in France, President Macron announced the dissolution of the National Assembly and called for early legislative elections on Jun. 30 for the first round and Jul. 7 for the second round.
The far-right National Rally party, led by Jordan Bardella, came first in France, securing 31.5 percent of the votes, double what was achieved by President Macron’s party, which came second with 15.2 percent. Meanwhile, other leftist, green, and conservative right-wing lists fell to lower positions in these elections.
In this context, Gerald Olivier, a French political analyst and strategy expert, told QNA that the European election results, which saw a victory for the nationalist right in France, have sparked a double revolution in European political life. He emphasized that European peoples have tried to change the narrow elitist concept of the European Union to bring it closer to the will and aspirations of the peoples from this European institution.
He explained that on the French level, voters expressed their will for change, pointing out that President Macron, by dissolving the National Assembly and calling for legislative elections, had no other choice but to create this political shock for voters, especially since he does not have a parliamentary majority. Without a parliamentary majority, one cannot govern or implement their political program.
He affirmed that this move showed that the president had learned the lesson from the past parliamentary term, which was overshadowed by issues of not having a majority in the parliament. Thus, after these early legislative elections, a new majority might form, whether for the presidential camp or the nationalist right, and in that case, President Macron would be forced to adopt the principle of coexistence with the far-right candidate for the head of government.
He pointed out that the principle of coexistence is not a precedent in French political life. It has existed before during the tenure of former President Jacques Chirac, who governed in cooperation with Socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and also in the mid-1980s during the term of former Socialist President François Mitterrand, who governed in cooperation with Republican Prime Minister Jacques Chirac at that time.
Regarding the risk of dissolving the National Assembly on the future of political institutions and political life as a whole in France, the political analyst and strategic expert at the European Institute indicated that if the early legislative elections do not result in a parliamentary majority, France could fall into a state of political uncertainty and a kind of confusing ambiguity. However, he noted that democratic constitutional and political principles will overcome all this confusion, and perhaps the solution will be in a government that coexists among several parties, as is currently the case in Germany and Italy and as happened in France in previous periods.
He stressed that the constitutional and democratic institutions were ultimately designed and built to withstand all scenarios and absorb all political shocks, including the political shock that occurred following the announcement of the European election results and the dissolution of the French National Assembly.
Olivier concluded his statement by saying that it is too early to talk about substantial political repercussions in the upcoming French presidential elections scheduled for 2027, noting that all scenarios remain open to many possibilities, especially with the current President Emmanuel Macron not running for re-election. (MORE)
Source: Qatar News Agency
