How did France get to this point?

After a shellacking for his centrist Ensemble (“Together”) Movement in the June 2024 European Parliament elections, French President Emmanuel Macron decided to call snap legislative elections to try to stabilize the domestic political situation. But Macron’s gamble that French citizens would reward him with a new majority and fresh mandate backfired, and he ended up with a “hung” National Assembly divided between three roughly equal and politically incompatible factions.

French PM to resign as no-confidence vote sparks new political crisis

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier is expected to resign on Thursday after far-right and leftist lawmakers voted to topple his government, plunging France into its second major political crisis in six months.

France's far right celebrates lead, seeks majority

France’s far right is in pole position after the first round of parliamentary elections that confirmed their dominance in French politics and brought them to the gates of power.

Far-right National Rally leads France's snap poll, left comes second ahead of Macron's camp

 Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally party was leading in France’s snap parliamentary elections on Sunday with 34% of votes, according to pollster Ipsos Talan. 

Macron beats Le Pen, wins over 58% of the votes

French President Emmanuel Macron has won a second term in office, defeating his far-right rival Marine Le Pen by a comfortable margin in a runoff election.

Macron and Le Pen proposing two very different futures for France

Macron v Le Pen and two visions for France

As French voters decide on Sunday which of the two will lead their country, what are their rival plans for the next five years?