France’s progressives keep out the far right, but what could happen next?

Far-left France Unbowed’s shock 182-seat return leaves three large blocs — the others being Emmanuel Macron’s centrists and Le Pen’s far right — vying for power

Jean-Luc Melenchon (centre) delivers a speech after the second round of the elections on Sunday in Paris. Mélenchon demanded Macron appoint a prime minister from the alliance and implement the entirety of the NFP’s programme. Photo: AP/Thomas Padilla

The New Popular Front (NFP), a left-green alliance dominated by Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s radical left Unbowed France (LFI), has emerged as the shock winner of France’s snap election, with 182 MPs in the 577-seat assembly.

President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist Together coalition will have 163 deputies, while Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN) and its allies, who last week were eyeing a majority, have 143.