National Rally Tops 1st Round of 2024 Legislative Elections, New Popular Front in Second Place

In the aftermath of the 1st round of the anticipated legislative elections, the National Rally and its allies (LR-Ciotti) have secured the top position nationally, garnering 33.15% of the votes by Monday, July 1st. The far-right party is closely followed by the New Popular Front, a coalition of left-wing parties (including France Unbowed, the Socialist Party, Place Publique, The Ecologists, and the French Communist Party), who claimed the second spot with 27.99% of the votes.

The candidates from the presidential majority, running under the banner ‘Together for the Republic’ (Renaissance, Horizons, and MoDem), finished third, securing 20.04% of the vote nationwide. Les Républicains, with 6.57% of the votes, ended up in fourth place—a figure that is complemented by the 3.66% achieved by ‘Divers droite’ candidates.

Voter turnout was significant for this initial round, reaching 66.71%. The last time such a high turnout was recorded dates back to the first round of the 2002 legislative elections (64.4%), steadily declining since 1993 (68.9%).

A total of 76 candidates were elected on Sunday, June 30, each receiving over 50% of the vote, representing at least 25% of registered voters. 37 National Rally candidates fall in this category, including their leader Marine Le Pen (58%) in Pas-de-Calais.

The sweeping victory continued as the New Popular Front claimed victory in 32 constituencies on Sunday. Insoumis figures, Manuel Bompard in Marseille (67.5%) and Mathilde Panot in Val-de-Marne (59.3%), were among the winners. Additionally, Olivier Faure, the First Secretary of the Socialist Party, secured his seat in Seine-et-Marne with 53.4% of the vote.

With the critical second round scheduled for July 7th after being summoned by Emmanuel Macron following the European elections on June 9th, these early elections will determine the future makeup of the French National Assembly and government. The National Assembly comprises 577 deputies, necessitating 289 to secure an absolute majority.

The crucial aspect now is to ascertain the number of three-way contests in the second round and the various withdrawals. Candidates have until Tuesday, 6:00 p.m., to confirm their participation in the second round with the Interior Ministry.