By Smartencyclopedia & Agencies 

PARIS  — A coalition of the French left that quickly banded together to counter a surging far right in the legislative elections has won the most seats in parliament, but not a majority, according to polling projections released Sunday. This unexpected result threatens to plunge the country into political and economic turmoil.

The projections show President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance coming in second, no longer in control of parliament, with the far right, led by Marine Le Pen’s National Rally, in third. With no bloc securing a clear majority, France faces a period of uncertainty that could unsettle markets and the economy of the European Union’s second-largest country, just weeks before the Paris Olympics.

Final results are expected late Sunday or early Monday following a highly volatile snap election. This election, which redrew the political landscape of France even before votes were cast, saw the leftist parties put aside their differences to form a coalition after Macron’s announcement just four weeks ago that he was dissolving parliament and calling the election.

It appears this gamble did not pay off for Macron. Projections indicate that his alliance will no longer be the largest single group in parliament, possibly by a significant margin. Although the National Rally significantly increased its seats, it fell short of securing an absolute majority, thus preventing the establishment of the first far-right government in France since World War II.

In Paris’ Stalingrad Square, leftist supporters celebrated as the projections were displayed on a giant screen. Similar scenes of jubilation were seen in the Republique plaza, with spontaneous hugging and prolonged applause.

Jordan Bardella, Marine Le Pen’s 28-year-old protégé, expressed disappointment, stating that the outcome “throws France into the arms of the extreme left.” Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a prominent leader of the leftist coalition, called on Macron to invite the New Popular Front coalition to form a government, asserting that the alliance “is ready to govern.”

If the projections are confirmed, France will face intense uncertainty, with no clear candidate for prime minister. Macron may be forced to govern alongside someone opposed to many of his domestic policies. This scenario could impact the war in Ukraine, global diplomacy, and Europe’s economic stability.

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has indicated he will resign but remain on an interim basis during the Olympics or as long as needed. Macron’s office stated that he would wait for the new National Assembly to take shape before making any decisions.

A hung parliament, with no single bloc close to the 289 seats needed for an absolute majority in the National Assembly, would be unprecedented in modern France. Unlike other European countries accustomed to coalition governments, France lacks a tradition of lawmakers from rival camps forming majorities.

Macron’s decision to dissolve parliament came after the far right’s strong showing in the European elections in June. He hoped the new elections would clarify the political landscape and bolster his presidency. Instead, voters used the opportunity to express their discontent.

The first round of voting saw significant support for the National Rally, with the leftist coalition in second and Macron’s centrist alliance trailing in third. The sharp polarization of French politics, exacerbated by this rapid campaign, complicates coalition-building efforts. The electoral campaign was marred by racism, antisemitism, Russian disinformation, and reports of physical attacks on more than 50 candidates. The government deployed 30,000 police officers for Sunday’s runoff vote to prevent unrest.

Any fragile majority that emerges will be vulnerable to no-confidence votes, potentially leading to further instability. This uncertainty could prompt calls for Macron to shorten his second and final term. The French Constitution prevents him from dissolving parliament again within the next 12 months, removing that option as a means to achieve greater clarity for France’s future.