With the decisive second round of elections to the French Parliament set to take place this Sunday, July 7, some 180 candidates have voluntarily dropped out in order to help opponents of Marine Le Pen's National Rally win more seats, according to DW.
President Emanuel Macron, who had called a snap election following his party's poor showing in the EU parliamentary elections, is reportedly working with the leftwing LFP to encourage "tactical voting" to deny Marine Le Pen's National Rally from winning an outright majority in the French Parliament.
There are now two likely scenarios for next week: a Le Pen victory with their member Jordan Bardella becoming Prime Minister and uneasily "cohabiting with Macron until he steps down in 2027, or a hung parliament and political paralysis.
The stakes are high, as some 501 seats are up for grabs and only 76 won outright. Thus, although polls do not suggest Le Pen will win her absolute majority, anything remains possible.