France Faces Huge Hung Parliament as Left-Wing Trumps Far Right with No Majority
A coalition of the French left emerged victorious in high-stakes legislative elections, securing the most seats and fending off a surge from the far right. However, the leftists fell short of achieving a majority, leaving France in a precarious position with a hung parliament and potential political deadlock. The outcome has significant ramifications for France, a key member of the European Union and the host country for the upcoming Olympics. Political instability could unsettle markets, affect the French economy—the second largest in the EU—and have broader impacts on the war in Ukraine, global diplomacy, and Europe's economic stability. President Emmanuel Macron called the election on June 9, following a strong showing by the far right in European Parliament voting. He intended for the election to provide "clarification" but the gamble appears to have backfired. None of the three main political blocs secured the 289 seats needed to control the 577-seat Nationa...
