[Channel News Asia] French President Emmanuel Macron’s gamble to force unity through a snap election has failed. France looks more divided than ever after Sunday (Jul 7) and his own power is now diluted.None of the three largest political blocs has enough seats to form a government on their own. The left-wing alliance New Popular Front (NFP) came in first by a small margin, while Mr Macron’s centrist Ensemble beat expectations to get ahead of the far-right National Rally (RN) party. But why should this matter to anyone outside the fray of French domestic politics?
One of Europe’s largest countries and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council is heading for gridlock or political instability for the next three years, until Mr Macron’s final term ends in 2027.
The electoral result in France matters globally, for three reasons.
First, the French parliament election shows the political clout of populism remains strong globally - on both ends of the spectrum.
While many are relieved that voters denied the nationalist, anti-immigration RN party a majority, its success and growing influence cannot be denied. In 2017 at the beginning of Mr Macron’s first term, the far-right party had eight seats in parliament; today, it has 143 - its highest score ever.