France faced an election result with no surprises for the far right. For a second time, the nationalist side appeared to win the European Parliament vote, this time with a clear majority around 32.5 percent, widening the gap with Emmanuel Macron’s presidential coalition which trailed in second place at roughly 15.2 percent.
As soon as the results were announced, scores of supporters gathered at Paris’s Floral Park, the spot chosen by Marine Le Pen’s group for celebrations. They broke into applause, waved France’s banners, and sang the national anthem. The front-runner of the rallying group, Rebuilding Our France, stated just minutes after the first estimates were released that the country was ready to be led by their platform.
Most of the cheering crowd consisted of young people seeking change, according to a voter from Rebuilding Our France who spoke with a regional newspaper. Experts note that in recent years the far right has earned the trust of younger generations, particularly those aged 18 to 24. The list leader, Jordan Bardella, is known for his large following on TikTok and was cited in 2024 as one of the most popular figures in France.
It marked the largest victory for a single party in European elections since 1984, when Simone Veil defeated the Socialists with 43.02 percent, a 22-point lead over Lionel Jospin.
The Socialists placed third in the estimates, around 14 percent, eight points higher than in 2019, while the Greens were projected to enter the European Parliament with a little over 5 percent.
No surprises, but a historic win
Forecasts in the weeks prior had signaled a strong lead for the far-right. The lingering question was not whether they would win, but by what margin they would surpass the rest of the field. The French electorate gave the sitting government a setback once again. Macron’s party had already fallen short in the 2019 European elections, coming within a narrow margin of the far-right on that occasion, but the 2024 results show a wider split that could influence the political landscape ahead of national elections in 2027.
In a broader view, French voters once again sent a signal of discontent with the governing platform, widening the gap with the traditional center-left and center-right blocs. The numbers suggest a turning point in how the presidency might be challenged in nationwide votes, with the far right building momentum as a credible national force.
Europe eyes France’s Le Pen era
The French vote weighs heavily on the European Parliament, ranking as one of the bloc’s larger delegations with around 79 seats. Analysts note that the dynamic in Brussels could hinge on a potential three-way alignment among leading female leaders in Europe, including Ursula von der Leyen, Giorgia Meloni, and Marine Le Pen, who may need to cooperate on shared priorities. The outcome sets a stage where political bargaining and cross-border cooperation will shape the next European term.
France’s significance in the European Parliament remains high, shaping legislative agendas and regional influence. This election cycle underscores how domestic politics can ripple across the Union, affecting negotiations on key topics such as security, immigration, and economic policy. The broader trend shows how a surge in support for nationalist platforms can alter the balance of power among member states while testing the capacity for consensus at the European level.