Thread by @mathieulefevre_

🇫🇷🧵5 takes from yesterday's historic #FrenchElections. 1) Severe blow for Macron. Key architects of campaign (Ferrand, Castaner) are beaten. Part of problem may be #EnMarche team is too technocratic/bland. Shockingly weak calls to block #LePen in 2nd round will leave a stain 1/5

2) Le Pen is the big winner of the night with far more MPs than predicted (they go from 8 to 89!). RN waged a stealth, quiet campaign and swept the field in rural areas. Hate to say it, but maybe this is a good thing: Parliament will now look more like French society. 2/5

3) #Melenchon did brilliant job w #NUPES alliance. Looked impossible 3 months ago. He put the politics back into French politics. But 142 seats = not a big success, esp. outside big cities. I bet alliance starts to crack soon. New faces (ex @KekeRachel) are breath o fresh air 3/5

4) Conservatives (LR) are now kingmakers. After disastrous Presidential elections, to end up with 64 seat
is a win. They are the most likely to help Macron reach majorities on key bills. Macron government will have to lean right now. 4/5

5) Everyone loses: turnout is near record lows at 47%. Turnout projected to be just 30 % for under 35s. Conclusion: certainly lots to worry about but also maybe - just maybe - a much needed democratic revival in 🇫🇷 over the next 5 years. END. 5/5 #legislatives2022