A triumph for the National Rally and a rout for the presidential camp. The European vote was marked this Sunday in France by the historic score of Jordan Bardella (32.3%) and the breakthrough to the left of Raphaël Glucksmann (14.2%) for the Socialist Party. In the wake of the results, Emmanuel Macron announced a dissolution of the National Assembly. What are the lessons of this election for the main parties in the running? We take stock.
The National Rally succeeds in its bet
By obtaining more than 32% of the vote – the party’s best score in the first round of a national election – Jordan Bardella was indeed the steamroller predicted by polls for months. The National Rally candidate crushed the competition, leaving only crumbs for the right and the great rival on the far right Reconquest.
Above all, he inflicted a scathing defeat on Emmanuel Macron, “a weakened president”, from whom the MEP requested a dissolution of the National Assembly. A path finally chosen by the Head of State immediately.
Valérie Hayer eclipsed by Emmanuel Macron
Once again, the spotlight has been stolen from him in this campaign. Soundly beaten by Jordan Bardella (at 15.2%, more than 17 points from the RN), the head of the presidential camp’s list was eclipsed by the announcement of the head of state. Around 9 p.m., Emmanuel Macron surprised everyone by announcing the dissolution of the National Assembly. A way of responding to the political crisis born from the rout of his camp.
Raphaël Glucksmann takes the lead from the left
Raphaël Glucksmann failed to get ahead of Valérie Hayer in the final straight. No matter, the stakes were perhaps elsewhere for the head of the Socialist Party-Public Square list. By taking third place in the vote (14.2%), the outgoing MEP takes the leadership of the left, far ahead of the rebels led by Manon Aubry (8.6%). This advance could well be important in the coming days, when negotiations for the upcoming legislative elections already look tense.
The Republicans are standing still
“After so many challenges, we are finding momentum again.” François-Xavier Bellamy welcomed “the beginning of a long road to rebuild the right”. By obtaining more than 7% of the vote, the Les Républicains candidate erases the nightmare of the last presidential election, where the right sank below 5%. He also won the match in the match against the Zemmourist rival, who has been trying for two years to steal his electorate. But if the Republicans will have a handful of MEPs during the future mandate, they are doing less well than during the previous European election (8.48%).
What strategy will they have during future legislative elections? “I am in opposition. More than ever, we will maintain a line of total independence,” has already warned Eric Ciotti, LR president.
Relief at Reconquête and EELV
For several weeks, Eric Zemmour’s party had been engaged in a campaign for its survival. By passing the fateful 5% mark by a hair, he saves the furniture and sends a handful of elected officials to the European Parliament. Marion Maréchal, head of the Reconquest list, therefore succeeds in the challenge of existing outside the RN. And this, despite the numerous internal tensions that punctuated the campaign.
Same relief among environmentalists, who are avoiding a historic slap in the face. Marie Toussaint, however, deplored on Sunday a “dry, bitter defeat” for an “ecology at half mast”. His list is much less than that led by Yannick Jadot in 2019 (13.48%). But the ecologists can breathe a sigh of relief: with 5%, they will have a handful of elected officials in the new Parliament in Strasbourg.