03:56The New Popular Front (NFP) alliance's Jean-Luc Melenchon called on his country to 'turn the page' and 'become the new France', as he addressed supporters following the bloc's first-place finish in the second round of the elections on Sunday.
"France must surely become the new France," he told them. "That is one where we turn the page on the sexism that gave men powers that women did not have in the 1950s. That of Islamophobia and hatred towards some religions, regardless of which ones. And so on."
"We know how we won, and I'll tell you very clearly, very plainly," he added. "It's first because we have a political line that allows us to unite the people. The French people, as you've been told and repeated, and that I ask the youngest to learn by heart, are neither a religion, nor a skin colour, nor even a language."
Exit polls projected the NFP on 177-192 seats, with President Emmanuel Macron's centrist Ensemble coalition in second with 152-58 and the anti-immigration National Rally (RN) in third place on 138-145. A majority requires 289 seats.
RN topped the polls in the first round, but in the second, candidates frequently stand down to maximise the chances for allies. NFP issued instructions for third-placed candidates to withdraw in favour of Macron's centrists, with the president also called for a 'no vote for RN' - leading to some anger even within his own party about a perceived 'deal'.
National Rally leader Jordan Bardella called it an 'alliance of dishonour'.
Macron called the snap legislative vote following huge losses in the EU Parliament elections, which also saw a surge for RN. The domestic election had not been expected until 2027.
Across the EU bloc, conservative, nationalist and anti-immigration groups also made large gains in the EU-wide vote. Many called for a focus on domestic priorities amid the soaring cost of living, as well as lower taxes, better border security and an end to foreign military interventions, such as in Ukraine.
France's election was held over two rounds, on June 30 and July 7, to elect all 577 members of the National Assembly. Macron has not held a majority in parliament since 2022 and has used executive powers to pass legislation like his pension reforms, which have seen huge protests.
'Turn the page!' - NFP's Melenchon celebrates following shock election victory as National Rally pushed into third place
The New Popular Front (NFP) alliance's Jean-Luc Melenchon called on his country to 'turn the page' and 'become the new France', as he addressed supporters following the bloc's first-place finish in the second round of the elections on Sunday.
"France must surely become the new France," he told them. "That is one where we turn the page on the sexism that gave men powers that women did not have in the 1950s. That of Islamophobia and hatred towards some religions, regardless of which ones. And so on."
"We know how we won, and I'll tell you very clearly, very plainly," he added. "It's first because we have a political line that allows us to unite the people. The French people, as you've been told and repeated, and that I ask the youngest to learn by heart, are neither a religion, nor a skin colour, nor even a language."
Exit polls projected the NFP on 177-192 seats, with President Emmanuel Macron's centrist Ensemble coalition in second with 152-58 and the anti-immigration National Rally (RN) in third place on 138-145. A majority requires 289 seats.
RN topped the polls in the first round, but in the second, candidates frequently stand down to maximise the chances for allies. NFP issued instructions for third-placed candidates to withdraw in favour of Macron's centrists, with the president also called for a 'no vote for RN' - leading to some anger even within his own party about a perceived 'deal'.
National Rally leader Jordan Bardella called it an 'alliance of dishonour'.
Macron called the snap legislative vote following huge losses in the EU Parliament elections, which also saw a surge for RN. The domestic election had not been expected until 2027.
Across the EU bloc, conservative, nationalist and anti-immigration groups also made large gains in the EU-wide vote. Many called for a focus on domestic priorities amid the soaring cost of living, as well as lower taxes, better border security and an end to foreign military interventions, such as in Ukraine.
France's election was held over two rounds, on June 30 and July 7, to elect all 577 members of the National Assembly. Macron has not held a majority in parliament since 2022 and has used executive powers to pass legislation like his pension reforms, which have seen huge protests.
The New Popular Front (NFP) alliance's Jean-Luc Melenchon called on his country to 'turn the page' and 'become the new France', as he addressed supporters following the bloc's first-place finish in the second round of the elections on Sunday.
"France must surely become the new France," he told them. "That is one where we turn the page on the sexism that gave men powers that women did not have in the 1950s. That of Islamophobia and hatred towards some religions, regardless of which ones. And so on."
"We know how we won, and I'll tell you very clearly, very plainly," he added. "It's first because we have a political line that allows us to unite the people. The French people, as you've been told and repeated, and that I ask the youngest to learn by heart, are neither a religion, nor a skin colour, nor even a language."
Exit polls projected the NFP on 177-192 seats, with President Emmanuel Macron's centrist Ensemble coalition in second with 152-58 and the anti-immigration National Rally (RN) in third place on 138-145. A majority requires 289 seats.
RN topped the polls in the first round, but in the second, candidates frequently stand down to maximise the chances for allies. NFP issued instructions for third-placed candidates to withdraw in favour of Macron's centrists, with the president also called for a 'no vote for RN' - leading to some anger even within his own party about a perceived 'deal'.
National Rally leader Jordan Bardella called it an 'alliance of dishonour'.
Macron called the snap legislative vote following huge losses in the EU Parliament elections, which also saw a surge for RN. The domestic election had not been expected until 2027.
Across the EU bloc, conservative, nationalist and anti-immigration groups also made large gains in the EU-wide vote. Many called for a focus on domestic priorities amid the soaring cost of living, as well as lower taxes, better border security and an end to foreign military interventions, such as in Ukraine.
France's election was held over two rounds, on June 30 and July 7, to elect all 577 members of the National Assembly. Macron has not held a majority in parliament since 2022 and has used executive powers to pass legislation like his pension reforms, which have seen huge protests.