SRINAGAR: In a landmark election, French Muslims in collaboration with left-wing parties have achieved a significant political milestone, electing 19 Muslim lawmakers to the French Parliament. This historic outcome has also effectively countered the rise of the far-right.
Among the newly elected representatives are 12 women, marking a notable stride towards gender equality in political representation.
As of 2019-2020, Muslims constituted 10 per cent of the French population, according to the national statistics bureau. Despite this, their representation in Parliament stands at approximately 3.29 per cent, highlighting a continuing disparity between population demographics and political representation.
For comparison, the United Kingdom recently saw a record 25 Muslim MPs elected to the House of Commons, representing 3.84 per cent of the Parliament, against a Muslim population of 6 per cent.
The decisive election took place on July 8, when the coalition of French left parties secured the most seats in the high-stakes legislative elections. This coalition successfully surpassed a far-right surge but fell short of securing a majority. The New Popular Front leftist coalition won just over 182 seats, placing them first, ahead of President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance, which secured over 168 seats.
Marine Le Pen’s far-right party and its allies finished third with over 143 seats, a significant improvement from their previous best of 89 seats in 2022. The far-right had promised a “cultural battle” against Islam.
The French National Assembly comprises 577 deputies, each elected by a single-member constituency through a two-round system, requiring 289 seats for a majority.
France’s form of secularism avoids announcing the religion of its elected representatives. However, reports appearing in the media have identified 19 Muslims based on their names.
This electoral success for French Muslims and their left-wing allies signifies a crucial shift in the nation’s political landscape, providing a counterbalance to far-right ideologies and promoting a more inclusive representation within the Parliament.
President Emmanuel Macron has accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and his government on Tuesday, July 16. However, the ministers will stay in office as part of a caretaker government which can only administer day-to-day affairs. It remains to be seen how a coalition is created within the two of the three political groups.
