The leader’s Ensemble alliance wins the most seats, but Mr. Macron’s plans for a reform agenda may be derailed by a period of political unpredictability.
After national elections left France with a hung parliament, French President Emmanuel Macron was forced to scramble to salvage a governing majority.
His centrist Ensemble alliance won the most seats in the National Assembly, the most powerful branch of the country’s parliament, but it fell short of the absolute majority threshold of 288 seats.
As a result of Mr. Macron’s setback, his reform plans may be derailed during a period of political uncertainty that may necessitate power-sharing.
After the final round of voting, the second-largest coalition was a left-wing coalition of socialists and greens known as the New Ecologic and Social People’s Union (NUPES) and led by 70-year-old Jean-Luc Melenchon.
The far-right National Rally party of Marine Le Pen won its largest representation ever in the lower house.
Mr. Melenchon told his supporters, “The presidential party has been completely routed.”
Mr. Macron, 44, was re-elected president in April, and a majority in the assembly today would have given him the authority to implement his campaign promises, including tax cuts, raising France’s retirement age from 62 to 65, and increasing European integration.
However, he could now be thrust into a series of protracted domestic policy negotiations at a time when foreign affairs have taken precedence due to the war in Ukraine.
His coalition could either seek an alliance with the conservatives or form a minority government that must negotiate laws on an individual basis.
“We must adopt this culture of compromise, but we must do so based on clear values, ideas, and political projects for France,” said Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire.
The conservative Les Republicains won 61 seats, making them a potential kingmaker.
“Emmanuel Macron’s arrogance and contempt for the French made him a president of a minority,” said Jordan Bardella of Marine Le Pen’s far-right Rassemblement National party.
In Mr. Macron’s camp, Gabriel Attal told, “Nobody has won,” while government spokeswoman Olivia Gregoire described the results as disappointing while noting that the alliance would remain the largest group in parliament.
In the first vote held last week, the left-wing opposition performed surprisingly well, causing unease among Mr. Macron’s allies.
After electing a president, French voters have historically given them a comfortable parliamentary majority a few weeks later, with the rare exception of Francois Mitterrand in 1988.
