[Powerline] A week ago, the National Rally, a "far right" anti-mass third world immigration party, got the most votes in the first round of France’s two-step voting for the National Assembly. There was hope in some quarters that the Rally could win an absolute majority in today’s second round of balloting, and form a government.But it was not to be. President Macron and his party joined with leftist parties (including socialists and Communists) to frustrate the "far right." Whichever of those groups had finished third in a given district withdrew, so they could consolidate their forces against the Rally. And fear of a conservative victory drove the highest turnout since 1981.
The result is that the far left is now in the driver’s seat. Exit polling indicates that a coalition of left-wing parties will win somewhere between 172 and 192 seats in the Assembly, Macron’s party 150 to 170, and the National Rally 132 to 152. There are some seats left over for unaffiliated parties.
So the establishment united to block what it considers to be the ultimate horror—a sensible immigration policy. It is revealing, I think, that the French establishment was happy to unite with Communists rather than allow the "far right" to gain power. They certainly don’t want any extremists in the government!
This year’s election represents a high water mark for genuinely conservative parties in France, but participation in a governing coalition will have to await another day.