The deadline for registering candidacies for the second round of the French elections expires

Behind the broad victory for the far right On Sunday, the deadline for reaching an agreement that would prevent his rise to power is weakened by the conditions that part of Macronism is setting for supporting left-wing candidates at the final election date on July 7. The Left Front will not participate where it came third, and 122 left-wing candidates have already withdrawn.

French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that “no vote must go to the far right”, although his message has been interpreted differently in his own party, whose voting slogan appears decisive in preventing the Ultra National Group (RN) from forming a government backed by an absolute majority in the lower house of parliament.

Macron reminds his ministers that his goal is to eradicate the far right, and fifty candidates from his party who finished in third place have already given up their participation.

The French electoral system, which operates in two rounds and allows lists with at least 12.5% ​​of the votes of the total number of registered candidates to qualify for the final round, poses a real political puzzle.

The Popular Front has announced that it will withdraw its worst-placed candidates who allow the victory of a force other than the RN. However, Macron’s slogan has not fully resonated with his own allies, especially among the leaders of the conservative Republicans (LR).

Jordan Bardella, the candidate for French prime minister for the far-right National Rally (RN), has contacted the conservative right wing of the Republicans (LR), who have however rejected the invitation and are insisting on the formation of “a provisional government”. “Without that training.

For his part, LR leader Xavier Bertrand, a source of far-right votes, has assured that “there are other solutions for an RN government, for example a provisional government to rebuild the country.” Bardella will try to rely on LR if he misses a few seats to the 289 that would give him an absolute majority.

The RN won the first round of parliamentary elections last Sunday with 33% of the vote, but fell short of an absolute majority, which could be frustrated if the New Popular Front and the centrist-Macronist coalition were to agree on a front against the far right.

Dilemma at Ipar Euskal Herria

After the victory of the New Popular Front in the first round in the three constituencies of Ipar Euskal Herria, the Macronists are faced with the dilemma of whether to withdraw or not in order to unite the votes against the far right. Now that the far right is achieving historic results and is in second place in two of the constituencies, the hitherto Macronist deputy Florence Laserre has decided to withdraw her candidacy.

In the fifth constituency, that of Baiona or Angelu, the hitherto deputy Florence Laserre, Macronist, third with 26% of the votes, has withdrawn from the second round to which she was entitled according to the criteria of the leadership. Voters will have to choose between Colette Capdevielle, a socialist who participates in the Popular Front and obtained 32%; or the lepenista Serge Rosso who remained at 27%.

In the fourth constituency, which mainly includes Nafarroa Beherea and Zuberoa, three will compete in the second round: the socialist candidate of the Popular Front Iñaki Etxaniz, who obtained 38%; the far-right Sylviane Lopez with 25% and the candidate for the National Alliance with 18.

Finally, the battle is perhaps fiercest in the sixth constituency, where most of the Lapurdi coast is located. The most voted this Sunday is Peio Dufau, member of EH Bai of the Popular Front, with 29%.