On Sunday, in the first round of voting, the far-right National Rally topped the poll and the left-wing New Popular Front coalition finished second.
Under a system of “cohabitation” with the president, National Rally would be in power, free to carry out its hard-line anti-migrant agenda.
The more likely scenario, however, is that National Rally falls short of a majority, leaving France with a hung parliament.
With a weakened Mr. Macron atop a fractious and uncooperative assembly, France would enter a profound political crisis with no remedy in sight.
In the event of a hung parliament, Mr. Macron would have very few options.
Persons:
Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Jordan Bardella
Organizations:
Popular Front, National Assembly, National, Republicans, New
Locations:
France, Sunday’s, Vichy