The French electorate went to the polls for the 2024 legislative election, culminating on July 7 with the selection of all 577 deputies for the 17th National Assembly of the Fifth Republic. The vote unfolded over two rounds – the first on June 30 and the decisive runoff a week later – with French citizens residing outside metropolitan France casting their ballots a day earlier. President Emmanuel Macron called the snap election after dissolving the Assembly in response to the National Rally’s (RN) strong showing in the 2024 European Parliament election and the sharp decline of his “Besoin d’Europe” list.
The political stakes were high, and voter participation reflected the intensity of the contest. In the first round, the RN and candidates supported by Éric Ciotti’s The Republicans (LR) together captured 33.21 % of the vote, placing them ahead of the New Popular Front (NFP) bloc, which secured 28.14 %.
The pro‑Macron Ensemble coalition followed with 21.28 %, while LR candidates running independently obtained 6.57 %. Turnout reached 66.71 %, the highest level recorded since 1997, underscoring the public’s engagement. The strong participation set the scene for an unprecedented number of run‑offs: 306 constituencies faced three‑way contests and five were slated for four‑way battles.
However, in a coordinated effort to limit the RN’s chances of achieving an outright majority, a sizable number of candidates withdrew from the second round despite qualifying. Specifically, 134 NFP candidates and 82 Ensemble candidates stepped aside, aiming to consolidate the anti‑RN vote.
The strategic withdrawals highlighted the tactical dimension of French politics, where alliances and calculated decisions can reshape electoral outcomes. By removing themselves from the run‑offs, the NFP and Ensemble sought to deny the RN a clear path to a dominant position in the Assembly. With the second round concluded on July 7, attention now turns to the composition and dynamics of the new legislature.
Analysts will watch how the various political groups – the RN, the LR‑backed candidates, the NFP, and the Ensemble bloc – navigate the legislative agenda and whether they can cooperate or will clash over policy priorities. The election’s aftermath is expected to influence the balance of power within the Assembly and, by extension, the direction of President Macron’s administration.
The high turnout and the unprecedented number of contested constituencies signal a volatile and competitive political environment that will shape France’s domestic and international policies in the coming months. As parties regroup and position themselves for future challenges, the performance of the RN and the effectiveness of the anti‑RN coalition will remain focal points. The newly elected 17th National Assembly will be tasked with addressing pressing issues ranging from economic reforms to France’s role on the global stage, making the outcomes of this snap election a critical backdrop for the nation’s next legislative term.
