JUST IN: Polls closed in France. Exit polls show surprise:
—Left coalition (New Popular Front) projected first. (!)
—Far-right (RN) has lost its bid to take power. Anti-RN front appears to have worked very well.
—No bloc close to majority.
Follow this 🧵 for results and more:
The 2nd leading pollster projects a similar result—if anything a higher range for the Left coalition.
This wld be a much stronger result than expected for the Macron bloc.
If confirmed, key takeaway: Left & Macronist voters transferred onto each other much more than expected. Clear anti-RN front.
The (very) simplified version is that parliament handles domestic policy and the president handles foreign power and is commander in chief. “Cohabitation” (PM and Pres. in different parties) has proved messy in the past. (In part because every PM wants to be the next president.)
Even better is that they have a distinct left/center/right. The more opposing interests hold power, the less likely it is to be abused or turned to despotism.
