The rise of the far-right National Rally of Marine Le Pen in the Sunday snap elections in France mobilised the democratic political forces ahead of the second turn on July 7.
The leaders of the Renaissance, New People’s Front, The Republicans (LR), The Greens and many others said yesterday that in front of the far-right danger, they would withdraw their candidates that arrived third in favour of the candidate who will fight Le Pen’s.
According to the Monde newspaper, more than 170 candidates who came third have already withdrawn before the second round. One hundred twenty-two are from the left, 50 from the presidential camp and one from the LR.
The high voter turnout of 67% in the first round showed the French people’s dedication to their democratic rights. This significant participation created several possible candidate configurations, with three or even four remaining in the race. However, 138 three-way contests are still planned. The deadline for applications is on Tuesday at 6 p.m. The final number of three-way and four-way contests may decrease if some candidates drop out to prevent the National Rally from winning.
If successful, this collective action could prevent a further rise of the far-right, potentially averting a National Rally-led government. The implications of such an outcome are not limited to France, but could have far-reaching consequences for Europe as a whole.
