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Post by Admin on Jul 8, 2024 0:31:21 GMT
Here are the official results from the second round. The leftist coalition has taken the most seats in parliament, with at least 181. Macron’s centrists have more than 160 seats. Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally have 143 seats after leading in the first round. No majority for anyone.
The unpopular Macron will have to form alliances to run the government.
Many voters decided that keeping the far right from power was more important than anything else.
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Post by Admin on Jul 8, 2024 7:20:41 GMT
The New Popular Front is an alliance of Socialists, Ecologists, Communists and France Unbowed (LFI) formed after President Macron called a snap parliamentary election on 9 June. These parties have previously criticised one another and have some key differences in their ideology and approach. But they decided to form a bloc to keep the far right out of government. The NPF has promised to scrap the pension and immigration reforms passed by the current government, to set up a rescue agency for undocumented migrants and to facilitate visa applications. It also wants to put caps on basic goods to combat the cost of living crisis and raise the minimum wage. There was rejoicing at 20:00 local time (18:00 GMT) in the left-wing camp when the projections were published. Against every expectation the National Rally had fallen from a clear first place in round one a week ago, to third place in round two. It now looks set to secure - at most - 150 seats in the assembly, some way behind the New Popular Front on the left and supporters of President Macron in the centre. It seems the calls from all the other parties to block the far-right’s coming to government have worked very effectively: Jordan Bardella will not be the next French prime minister.
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Post by Admin on Jul 8, 2024 12:40:05 GMT
Speaking at an annual Catholic conference on social issues, the pope said many people feel excluded from democracy and that the poor and vulnerable are left to fend for themselves.
"Democracy is clearly in an unhealthy state in the world today. Ideology seduces and tempts, but forces you to deny yourself."
He also said that a "crisis of democracy" was plaguing various countries, but did not give any specific examples.
"Let us not be fooled by easy solutions. Instead, let us be passionate about the common good," he added.
He also emphasized the importance of teaching children democratic values, warning that "apathy is a cancer on democracy."
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Post by Admin on Jul 8, 2024 13:10:52 GMT
Although these parties originally had differences in their views, they were formed in response to President Macron's decision to dissolve the House of Representatives and hold a general election to prevent the far-right party National Union (RN) from advancing.
The New Popular Front calls for a complete repeal of Macron's pension reform, which raised the age at which people can receive benefits to 64, and a plan to raise the minimum wage. There are concerns in the market that France's government debt will increase due to its policy of fiscal expansion. Economy and Finance Minister Le Maire has warned that if a left-wing coalition wins the general election, it will "bring on the collapse of the economy."
In terms of foreign policy, he has pledged to ``immediately recognize'' a Palestinian state in response to the tense situation in the Middle East, and has called for a ceasefire in the ongoing fighting between the Israeli army and the Islamic fundamentalist group Hamas in the Palestinian autonomous region of Gaza. Supports the provision of weapons to Ukraine, which is being invaded by Russia. The government has taken a negative stance on sending troops, citing the risk of escalating the fighting.
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Post by Admin on Jul 9, 2024 12:30:43 GMT
The leader of France's far-right National Rally (RN), Jordan Bardella, will head a new right-wing grouping in the European Parliament, Patriots for Europe. The announcement came the day after Mr Bardella’s party lost the second round of France’s snap legislative election. In a post-election speech on Sunday night, Mr Bardella announced that the RN’s members of the European Parliament (MEPs) would join a “large group” that would influence the “balance of power in Europe, rejecting the flood of migrants, punitive ecology, and the seizing of our sovereignty”. On Monday Mr Bardella said Patriots for Europe represented “hope for the tens of millions of citizens in the European nations who value their identity, their sovereignty and their freedom”. He also vowed to “work together in order to retake our institutions and reorient policies to serve our nations and peoples”.
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