Far-right Party opponents intensified their efforts on Tuesday to block France’s National Rally (RN) from gaining power, with more candidates announcing their withdrawal from this weekend’s run-off election to avoid splitting the anti-RN vote.
National parliament candidates have until 6 p.m. (1600 GMT) to decide, while according to local media estimates, some 180-plus candidates have confirmed they will not stand in Sunday’s second-round election for France’s 577-seat national parliament.
Marine Le Pen’s RN emerged significantly ahead in Sunday’s first-round vote, following President Emmanuel Macron’s failed gamble on a snap election. His centrist camp ended up in a distant third place, trailing behind a swiftly assembled left-wing alliance.
Even before the last-minute maneuvers to form a “republican front” aimed at thwarting the anti-immigrant, eurosceptic party, it remained uncertain whether the RN could secure the 289 seats required for a majority.
Analysts predicted that following the first round, the RN could potentially secure between 250 to 300 seats. However, this forecast was made before candidates strategically withdrew and various parties urged voters to support candidates with the best chance of defeating their local RN rivals.
