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Montreal’s French nationals greeted the results of Sunday’s second round of parliamentary voting with a sigh of relief.
Those gathered at the Union Française to watch the developments with their compatriots feared that the Rassemblement National (RN) would finish in first place, as had happened in the first round, and that Jordan Bardella would become the country’s new prime minister.
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They were reassured by the coalition of left-wing parties, the Nouveau Front populaire (NFP), surpassing expectations to finish first.
Beyond that victory, it was the RN’s defeat that really delighted the French voters who spoke to Presse Canadienne.
“Phew! I have tears in my eyes. I was scared. Nothing is won, but now I am so happy! Honestly, I would have been ashamed of my country,” said an emotional Chantal Perret, surrounded by French immigrants of all ages, including children.
“It’s a relief,” said her husband, Pierre Théveret. “We’re really happy for our children and our grandchildren. It’s extraordinary. A victory for the Rassemblement National would have been dramatic.”
All that mattered for the couple was that the majority of French residents didn’t back the far-right RN.
“Left, right, but not them (the RN) — they’re against everything,” said Perret, a septuagenarian from Paris. “France is the country of liberty and human rights.”
Her wish was granted as Marine Le Pen’s party finished third. Exit polls indicated the RN will get between 113 and 148 seats once all the votes are counted, a process that could take until Monday.
The NFP is in first place, projected to win between 178 and 205 seats, followed by President Emmanuel Macron’s coalition (between 157 and 174 seats.)
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