A victory with no clear winners, just one loser

As French politicians struggle to make sense of heavily split election results, they can rest assured that Marine Le Pen will not yet be at the country’s helm

French President Emmanuel Macron takes selfies with supporters after voting for the second round of the legislative elections in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, northern France, last Sunday. Picture: Mohammed Badra/Pool/AP

As France struggles to make sense of hopelessly split general election results, Emmanuel Macron knows he will be remembered as the president who asked for clarity and got none.

In a gesture likened to a toddler’s tantrum by opponents and, privately, some colleagues, he called the snap poll in response to humiliation at elections for the European Parliament. Marine Le Pen’s far right National Rally (RN) had trounced his party, winning more than twice as many votes.