MarineLePen's far-rightNationalPartycametopwithmorethan a thirdofthevote, followedby a surgeinsupportfortheleft-wingcoalitionwitharound 28 percentofthepoll. PresidentMacron's gambletoholdthesnapelectionsawhiscenter-rightallianceofpartiesrelegatedtothirdplace. A finalresultwon't beknownforanotherweekwith a secondroundofvotingfortheNational
LePen, her 28-year-oldprotégé JordanBardellawho's hopingtobeFrance's nextprimeminister. Resultsshowtheirpartyonthelefthaswonover a thirdofallvotescast. A stunningresultforananti-immigrant, euro-skeptic, populistplatform. A politicalearthquakeinthemaking? Perhaps. ThiseveningLePentoldthecountryithadnoreasontofear a governmentledbythenationalrally.
Butthisfightisnotoveryet. PresidentEmmanuelMacrontook a hugegamblebycallingtheelection. Smile, saysthechild, andhedoes. TheFrenchpresidentisnowhoping a broadallianceofthecenterandleftcankeepthenationalrallyoutofpowerin a secondroundofvoting. Butthere's noguaranteethatwillwork.
InParistoday, preparationsfortheupcomingOlympicGames. ButFrance's politicalpolarizationiscausingalarm. I thinkit's concerningthatwehavepeopleinourcountrywhovoteatextremes. Itusedtobemoreof a smallpartofthepopulation, butwecanseetodaythatit's kindof a lotofthepopulationwhovoteseitherfarrightoreitherfarleft. Left-wingprotestersgatheringtonightincentralParis, somecallingthehardrightfascists. Thereisanxietyhereand a hugeamountatstakeforFranceandindeedforallofEurope.