France: Political Developments and Data for 2022

Abstract

AbstractAs an election year for President Macron and his majority, 2022 proved itself a challenge. President Macron did win his run‐off against Le Pen, once again, but the key result of the legislative elections was the formation of a minority government. LREM (La République En Marche!), relabeled since as Revival, did not secure a majority in the National Assembly and was unable to form a stable coalition with any significant partner in the context of continuing polarization of the party system. The year 2022 brought unexpected developments on the left, with a new coalition called Nupes (New Popular Green and Social Union, Nouvelle Union Populaire Ecologique et Sociale) and bringing together all major left‐wing parties under the leadership of Mélenchon and LFI (La France Insoumise). Meanwhile, the two formerly dominant parties since the 1980s, the Socialist Party and the Republicans, have almost vanished from the scene.