French Regional Elections, Far-Right Le Pen's Complete Defeat... Uncertain Outlook for Next Year's Presidential Election

Macron and Le Pen Parties Defeated in All Regions
Centrist-Right Coalition Led by Republicans Wins

Marine Le Pen, Leader of the National Rally, Advances to the Runoff in the French Regional Elections
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] In the runoff of the last nationwide regional elections before next year's French presidential election, the ruling party and the far-right National Rally (RN) are expected to lose in all regions. As both parties leading the next presidential election polls are predicted to suffer complete defeats, there are observations that the outlook for next year's presidential election has become uncertain.

According to exit polls released on the 27th (local time) by polling agencies Ipsos and Sopra Steria, in the 12 mainland regional authorities (R?gions), the center-right camp including The Republicans (LR) is expected to win in 7 regions, while the center-left camp including the Socialist Party (PS) is expected to win in 5 regions.

President Emmanuel Macron's La R?publique En Marche! (LREM) and the National Rally led by Marine Le Pen did not win in any region.

The nationwide overall vote shares for each party were 38% for the broad right-wing, 34.5% for the broad left-wing, 20% for the National Rally, and 7% for LREM, in that order.

President Emmanuel Macron participating in the runoff of the French regional elections [Image source=Yonhap News]

While the ruling party's defeat in the local elections was expected amid President Macron's stagnant approval ratings, the prediction that Marine Le Pen's party, which currently ranks first in support among presidential candidates, would also suffer a complete defeat has led to evaluations that this exit poll result is a surprise.

In particular, even in Provence-Alpes-C?te d'Azur, where the National Rally ranked first in the first round of voting held a week ago, The Republicans are expected to ultimately win.

Le Pen criticized the exit poll results, saying, "The opposition colluded solely for the purpose of defeating the National Rally."

As the last nationwide election before next year's presidential election, this local election is regarded as a barometer to gauge public sentiment for the upcoming presidential race.

Accordingly, the election results are expected to be a severe blow to both Le Pen and President Macron, who are competing for first and second place in the next presidential election polls.

Le Pen's strategy was to use a victory in this local election as a stepping stone to increase national recognition, dispel negative sentiments toward the far-right party, and win next year's presidential election, but there is a growing possibility that this plan will face setbacks.

Xavier Bertrand [Photo by Reuters Yonhap News]

The center-right camp, which won this election, intends to carry the momentum into next year's presidential election. Xavier Bertrand, the center-right presidential candidate, said, "In this election, we put a brake on the rise of the far-right camp," adding, "We were able to gain momentum for victory in next year's election."

However, considering the low voter turnout in this local election held amid public indifference, some argue that it is premature to link the election results directly to next year's presidential election.

The voter turnout for this local election was only 35%. One citizen told major foreign media in an interview, "I have lost all hope in our politics," and said they did not vote in this election.

Meanwhile, in the first round of voting on the 20th, no candidate secured a majority in any R?gion, so candidates who obtained more than 10% of the vote proceeded to the runoff held on this day.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.