French elections

Against all the odds, the Nouveau Front Populaire- a left-wing party - has pulled off a surprise by coming out on top in the French parliamentary elections, beating the Rassemblement National - a far-right party - despite being the favourite in the polls. This unexpected victory was a relief for many French people in the face of the rise of the far right. The massive mobilisation of voters was decisive, with a turnout of 66.63% in the second round, the highest since 1997. This high level of public involvement testifies to the importance attached by the French people to the defence of democracy.

Despite this victory, the threat of the far right remains, with a significant increase in their number of MPs, from 89 to 143. The new political landscape is now made up of three major blocs: the NFP, the presidential camp and the RN, none of which can form a majority on its own. This configuration, unprecedented in the Fifth Republic, complicates the formation of a stable government and reflects the deep divisions within French society. Nevertheless, the NFP's victory and the high turnout represent a triumph for democracy and a reaffirmation of republican values in the face of extremism.