The challenge of joining forces against the far right in France

Several political formations in France are in full effervescence in the face of the need to build a united front to halt the advance of the far-right party National Rally (RN), led by Marine Le Pen, which achieved a historic breakthrough in the first round of legislative elections. With 33% of the votes, RN and its allies emerged as the winners of the election day, followed by the left-wing bloc with 28% and President Emmanuel Macron's centrists, who barely reached 22%, according to official results. Faced with this scenario, French political parties find themselves at a crossroads, debating and negotiating possible alliances and strategies to block the path to power of the far-right. The possibility of National Rally obtaining a simple majority, and even an absolute majority, of the 577 deputies in the National Assembly in the second round on July 7, has sparked concern and mobilization in different sectors of French society. The rise of RN and its nationalist platform has generated fears of growing tensions in French society. While some, like Jean-Claude Gaillet, a supporter of RN, express their satisfaction and the need for change, others, like Yamina Addou, show concern and sadness at the current political landscape. Uncertainty and a call to action have taken hold of the French political scene. The possibility of an ultra-right government led by RN has led political leaders to consider alliance and pact strategies to avoid this scenario. Both the left and the center have made it clear their willingness to withdraw their own candidates in districts where another candidate is better positioned to defeat RN in the second round. However, the implementation of these pacts is hindered by the reluctance of some sectors to support candidates from certain parties, such as La France Insoumise (LFI), generating tensions and additional challenges in forming possible alliances. The possibility of a government led by RN raises questions not only at the national level but also at the European level. The arrival of the far-right to power in France, for the first time since the liberation from Nazi occupation in 1945, could have repercussions on the course of the European Union and France's international relations. The uncertainty about the country's political future is reflected in financial markets and in the concern of other European countries and international actors in the face of this new political landscape. Amidst these negotiations and political tensions, French voters face a crucial decision in the second round of legislative elections. The need for a united front to halt the far-right poses a challenge for different political sectors and for society as a whole. The political future of France and the impact of these elections on the European landscape are at stake in this unprecedented political juncture.