The Ensemble centrist alliance was to win the most seats, but the planned suspended parliament was a setback for Mr Macron, whose reform plans could now be thwarted amid a period of political uncertainty that may require a power-sharing. A left-wing coalition of Socialists and Greens known as the New Ecological and Social Popular Union (NUPES) and led by 70-year-old Jean-Luc Melenchon was to be the second largest alliance since the last round of voting. Citizens across France went to the polls on Sunday to decide the 577 members of parliament, which is the lower house of parliament and the key to voting on the laws. Image: Jean-Luc Melenchon leads a left-wing coalition The 44-year-old Macron needed 289 seats for an absolute majority. One view showed that his alliance was going to win 224. Another view put the total at 210-250, while a third said it was 200-260. NUPES was projected to secure 149-200 seats, according to an estimate. Mr Melenchon told supporters the result was a “completely unexpected and invisible” situation. Macron was re-elected president in April and a majority in parliament today would give him the mandate to keep his campaign promises, which include tax cuts, raising France’s retirement age from 62 to 65 and increasing integration into the European Union. But Mr Macron could sink into a series of protracted domestic policy talks at a time when the war in Ukraine has focused on foreign concerns. His coalition could seek an alliance with the Conservatives or lead a minority government that would have to negotiate laws on a case-by-case basis. Conservative Les Republicains and allies could take up to 100 seats, which could potentially make them kings. And the far-right Rassemblement National party of Marin Le Pen could also win up to 100 seats, forecasts showed – the best result ever recorded. “It’s Emanuel Macron’s arrogance, his contempt for the French … that made him president of the minority,” said Jordan Bardella of the party. At Mr Macron’s camp, Gabriel Atal told TF1 TV: “Nobody won,” while government spokeswoman Olivia Gregoire said the results were disappointing, but noted that the alliance was still the largest group in parliament. In last week’s first ballot, the left-wing opposition staged a surprisingly strong show, upsetting Mr Macron’s allies. The result today could be considered unusual – after the presidential election, French voters generally gave them a comfortable parliamentary majority a few weeks later, with François Mitterrand a rare exception in 1988.
