French election: Emmanuel Macron wins parliamentary majority
La Republique en Marche victorious, but record low turnout could threaten President's planned reforms
French President Emmanuel Macron's La Republique en Marche party has secured a large parliamentary majority, taking seats from the traditional parties of the left and right which have dominated French politics for decades.
En Marche! and its centrist ally Democratic Movement are on course to win at least 355 out of 577 seats.
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe told the Daily Telegraph: "Through this vote, the vast majority of French have chosen hope over anger, confidence over turning in on themselves."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
According to The Guardian, "the clear majority will hand the new President a relatively free rein to implement his plans to change French labour law, and overhaul unemployment benefits and pensions".
En Marche!'s victory was tempered by low turnout, with only 43 per cent of voters taking part. Voting rates were reportedly lowest among young people and in low-income and working class areas.
"Record abstention rates and a lower-than-expected landslide prompted critics to warn he has no blank cheque for far-reaching reform," the Telegraph says.
Les Republicains and its allies are on track to secure around 125 seats, well down on its 200 in the previous parliament but higher than earlier polls had suggested.
Meanwhile, after being in power for the last five years, the Socialist party looks set to win fewer than 50 seats in total, its worst performance ever. Leader Jean-Christophe Cambadelis immediately resigned, nd called on the party to reform itself in the wake of the loss.
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen won a seat in the French parliament for the first time, but her National Front party won just eight seats in total.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The new powers to stop stalking in the UK
The Explainer Updated guidance could help protect more victims, but public is losing trust in police and battered criminal justice system
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Criminal trail?'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Grindr 'shared user HIV status' with ad firms, lawsuit claims
Speed Read LGBTQ dating app accused of breaching UK data protection laws in case filed at London's High Court
By Rebecca Messina, The Week UK Published
-
Myanmar: the Spring Revolution and the downfall of the generals
Talking Point An armed protest movement has swept across the country since the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi was overthrown in 2021
By The Week Staff Published
-
Israel hits Iran with retaliatory airstrike
Speed Read The attack comes after Iran's drone and missile barrage last weekend
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is there a peaceful way forward for Israel and Iran?
Today's Big Question Tehran has initially sought to downplay the latest Israeli missile strike on its territory
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of war
Speed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How powerful is Iran?
Today's big question Islamic republic is facing domestic dissent and 'economic peril' but has a vast military, dangerous allies and a nuclear threat
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
US, Israel brace for Iran retaliatory strikes
Speed Read An Iranian attack on Israel is believed to be imminent
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How green onions could swing South Korea's election
The Explainer Country's president has fallen foul of the oldest trick in the campaign book, not knowing the price of groceries
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Ukraine's battle to save Kharkiv from Putin's drones
The Explainer Country's second-largest city has been under almost daily attacks since February amid claims Russia wants to make it uninhabitable
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published