Thursday’s dramatic vote came just 11 days after the New Popular Front (NFP), a broad alliance of left-wing parties, secured a surprise victory in this summer’s snap election, winning the most seats but falling far short of an outright majority.
The inconclusive result of the election pushed French politics into turmoil, threatening the EU’s second-biggest economy with months or even years of political paralysis.
But Thursday night’s vote in the National Assembly indicates that a narrow path through the deadlock may be in sight.
The dramatic vote came just 11 days after the NFP secured a surprise victory.
After the center right withdrew its own candidate following the first round of the three-round vote, Braun-Pivet and her opponent from the left, Communist lawmaker André Chassaigne, found themselves separated by just eight votes.
Braun-Pivet ended up winning thanks to the support of just a few unaffiliated lawmakers.
Despite their success through unity, Macron’s camp and the conservatives may not continue their partnership. »
