In Sunday's parliamentary elections, the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) faced disappointment as they came in third place, stealing victory from their grasp, according to their supporters. The constituency in Eysines, a suburb of Bordeaux, had been previously held by RN member Grégoire de Fournas, who gained notoriety for his racially insensitive remarks during the previous parliament. However, this time, de Fournas was narrowly defeated by Pascale Got, a candidate from the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP), as part of a surprising wave of success for the alliance.

The results elicited mixed emotions among the candidates. Mrs. Got, in an emotional response, emphasized the importance of listening to the aspirations of the French people and working towards progress and social justice. Meanwhile, RN president Jordan Bardella decried what he called an "alliance of dishonor" between the NFP and President Emmanuel Macron's centrist Ensemble alliance, accusing them of colluding against the far-right party.

The RN's disappointment was attributed to tactical withdrawals made by other parties, which aimed to consolidate the anti-far-right vote. This strategy allowed the NFP and Ensemble to surpass the RN in the election. RN activist Luna Aimé expressed frustration, stating that it took the collaboration of nine parties to defeat the RN, despite the party still increasing its number of Members of Parliament (MPs) from 89 to 143, a historic achievement.

The sense among RN voters that victory was stolen from them through trickery was palpable. Even though the party had its best result in history, there was a feeling of defeat among supporters who expected to see the RN appoint a prime minister and govern the country for the first time. Party leader Marine Le Pen, however, remained optimistic, claiming that their victory had simply been deferred.

While some celebrated the defeat of the RN, particularly in the constituency where de Fournas had made derogatory comments, others expressed relief that the far-right party had been held off, at least for the time being. Soufiane, a resident of the constituency, expressed happiness at de Fournas' loss, highlighting the importance of France as a country where different cultures coexist.

The parliamentary elections in France showcased the growing influence of the RN across the country, even though it fell short of expectations. The outcome signals the possibility of a stalemate and highlights the divided nature of French politics.

The election campaign leading up to Sunday's vote was not without its challenges, as the interior minister reported that 51 candidates and activists had been targeted in acts of violence.

While the RN faces disappointment in this election, their goal of coming to power remains a driving force. Both the NFP and Ensemble will now have the opportunity to carry out their promised agendas, with the hopes of meeting the aspirations and desires of the French people.