French Jews Worried After Election Results

In the recent French parliamentary elections, the far-right National Rally led by Marine Le Pen was defeated, with the left-wing New Popular Front alliance gaining significant ground, securing 182 seats. This outcome has elevated concerns among French Jews about rising antisemitism, particularly due to the involvement of the far-left France Unbowed (LFI) party, led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who has a controversial history regarding antisemitism. Prominent figures like Rabbi Moshe Sebbag and philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy have expressed fears about the future for Jews in France and criticized the mainstreaming of antisemitic sentiments. The centrist Ensemble coalition, backed by President Macron, won 168 seats, indicating a fragmented political landscape. The electoral results suggest a challenging path ahead for forming a stable government and addressing rising social tensions.