Reactions from European politicians to the first round of the French parliamentary elections ranged from jubilation to consternation as the results showed a far-right wave. The result is seen as a harbinger of another EU country that will have a right-wing regime.
Marine Le Pen's National Rally party shot to first place with a third of the votes, according to results published by the French Interior Ministry. An alliance of left-wing parties made a strong impression and came second, while French President Emmanuel Macron's party finished a distant third.
The RN has had warm relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with the party even proposing an 'alliance' with Russia in the past. But the RN has recently made efforts to revamp its image, dropping its pledge to withdraw from NATO and supporting Ukraine.
The second round of French elections will take place on Sunday, July 7, and the far right will then have a chance to form a government for the first time since the pro-Nazi Vichy regime of the 1940s. If RN becomes the largest again, the now 28-year-old charismatic party chairman Jordan Bordella will become the youngest French prime minister ever.
And with that, the Eurosceptic and anti-immigrant far right would come to power democratically for the first time in a country that prides itself on being the cradle of human rights. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned of a “great danger” for Europe.
In Britain, Labor leader and likely next Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the result in France was a sign that politicians must focus on meeting people's needs.
In British opinion polls, Conservative Prime Minister Sunak is facing a historic loss and a change of power appears to be imminent. Right-wing extremist Nigel Farage can also win many votes with his Reform Party on Thursday, July 4.
Earlier this year, right-wing extremist and Islam hater Geert Wilders succeeded in putting together a right-wing majority coalition of four parties in the Netherlands after elections in parliament. That coalition will be sworn in by the Dutch king on Tuesday in The Hague. Wilders' coalition is supported by two new political movements of angry farmers and dissatisfied citizens and the right-wing liberal party of former Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
The new Dutch cabinet is led by the new non-party Prime Minister Dick Schoof, who until recently was director of the national security service.