French President Emmanuel Macron's government could find itself in a bind in the country's final parliamentary elections this Sunday.

France will hold a second round of general elections on Sunday to determine the composition of the country's powerful and legislative National Assembly. France's right-wing Rally National party won a landslide victory in the first round of elections last Sunday, heralding a possible eventual victory this Sunday and a weakening of Macron's power in France. (Related story: Biden's team reportedly privately worries that the darling of French liberalism will lose the election.)

It also signals a shift in voter priorities, with Macron's party backing stronger green energy initiatives and looser law enforcement. Immigration These policies have made Macron unpopular with most French people under his administration. Marine Le Pen's National Rally party stands in stark contrast to Macron's policies.

“You have people who are angry about immigration, about climate change policy, and so they built this wall, and the result is what we're calling the red wave in the United States,” Richard Holt, a European political analyst at Project 21, told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “It's really a culmination of anger at the system.”

Centrist and left-wing candidates from various parties in the race agreed to unite on Tuesday to stop the National Alliance from taking power. Hundreds of candidates from various parties in the race have agreed to withdraw and support the remaining candidates instead. Their withdrawal makes the path to a one-on-one showdown with the National Alliance candidate clearer. according to To Politico EU.

But the new coalition poses another threat to Macron's government: Some in his liberal coalition are refusing to support the left-leaning New Popular Front, made up of the Socialist and Green parties. Macron sees them as too extreme, and has suggested the New Popular Front is worse than the National Rally and could plunge the country into debt, Politico EU reports. and The Washington Post.

Far-left parties have also broken away from Macron's centrist line on foreign policy: The New Popular Front has been silent on NATO and its importance to France, but has been vocal in its support for the Palestinian cause and sanctions against the Israeli government. according to He told The Economist that Macron's government strongly supports France's role in NATO and does not recognise Palestine as an independent state.

Le Pen on Tuesday criticised the new coalition government for attempting an “executive coup” but said if she won at least 270 seats – 289 needed for an absolute majority – she could negotiate with other lawmakers to reach some kind of alliance deal. according to To the BBC and Politico EU.

Macron initially called for early elections after his liberal Renaissance party lost to the National Rally party in European Parliamentary elections in early June, seeing them as a second chance for voters to back his party to thwart the National Rally's advance.

But Macron's plan backfired: The Rally National won 28% of the vote on Sunday, while the liberal ensemble of parties, which includes Macron's Renaissance party, got just over 20%. according to Turnout on Sunday was the highest in decades, rising to 67% from around 45% in 2022, according to Politico EU.

“Democracy speaks out, France [National Rally] “'We have put Macron and his allies at the top, effectively wiping out the Macron camp,'” Le Pen told supporters after the first round of voting on Sunday.

As of June 30, the National Rally had 33% support, the New Popular Front had 28%, and the Ensemble coalition had 21%. according to According to an Ipsos poll cited by Politico EU.

LE TOUQUET-PARIS-PLAGE, FRANCE – JUNE 30: French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron leave a polling station in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, France, on June 30, 2024. Today is the first round of parliamentary elections, with the second round taking place on July 7. President Macron is calling these general elections following his party's defeat in the European Parliament elections earlier this month. (Photo by Sebastien Kurji/Getty Images)

“If we win the second most important election in France, [the parliamentary election]”They have gone mainstream,” Bruno Cottrell, a political analyst at Sciences Po, told Politico EU.

If the National Rally wins its first National Assembly victory on July 7 and secures an absolute majority, the party will gain significant legislative power and hinder President Macron's ability to implement his policies. France's Senate is already dominated by conservatives, and the National Rally would bring its conservative stance to the National Assembly, giving right-wing parties significant control in parliament. according to To PBS.

Macron would also be forced to appoint his National Rally nominee, Jordan Bardella, as prime minister if he wins on Sunday. This would create a “coexistence” effect, weakening Macron's executive power and allowing the prime minister to propose legislation separate from policies supported by his government, according to PBS.

“That's the great thing about our legislative system. It's a multi-party system. If the National Coalition wins, we'll have a slightly more correct coalition government. [Macron] “This policy of pursuing these far-left policies is going to end at some point. It's going to end and they're going to have to negotiate a policy that's a little bit more moderate,” Holt told DCNF. “And I think that's what the National Rally is about.”

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