The first round of the 2022 French legislative elections took place on Sunday, June 12.
The New Ecologic and Social People’s Union (NUPES), of which Europe Ecologie Les Verts – the French Green party is a part of, achieved “great” results with 380 candidates qualified for the second round.
Over 50 French Greens candidates within the union qualified for the runoff. A strong mobilisation in the second round will send a record-high number of Green members to the French parliament.
Ensemble, the presidential majority alliance, suffered the worst result of a presidential party in a legislative election since 2002. Les Républicains (EPP) also suffered a major defeat and will see its presence shrink to a record low number in the parliament.
Despite the very low turnout, symbolic of the democratic fatigue felt by French citizens, voters are more aware than ever that these results are about to bring major changes to the country. Green and left-wing voters must mobilise massively to change the majority in the French parliament next week.
Mélanie Vogel, co-chair of the European Green Party and French Greens senator comments: “French voters enthusiastically supported the union of Green and progressive forces. Yesterday’s result gives us great hope to prevent Macron’s party to hold an absolute majority in the French parliament. A strong Green and progressive presence in the French parliament is crucial to achieving the very necessary progress on the Green and just transition, not only in France but at the European level as well.
Macron was elected thanks to our mobilisation against the extreme right. The refusal of his party and its allies to unambiguously call to vote for the NUPES candidates in case of contests with the far-right is a grave political fault and a betrayal of European values.
As Greens, we have always supported openly and without ambiguity the democratic forces that could prevent the rise of the extreme right and will continue to do so in the runoff.”
