On Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron lost his parliamentary majority, a major blow to his plans for major second-term reform after a major election victory by a newly formed left-wing coalition and far-right parties.

The results have provoked French politics, leaving the prospect of a paralysed legislature or a disorganised alliance with Macron reaching new allies.

After Sunday’s second round, five French polling agencies predicted that Macron’s “Together” coalition would become the largest party in the next National Assembly. Still, with 200-260 seats, it would be less than the required 289 seats for a majority.

The result severely tarnished Macron’s victory in the April Presidential election when he defeated the far right to become the first French President to win a second term in more than two decades.

According to estimates, the new Left Alliance NUPES, led by 70-year-old hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchen, is ready to win 149-200 seats.

In May, the coalition, formed after the left split in the April Presidential election, brings together socialists, hard left, communists and the Greens.

The Left had only 70 seats in the outgoing parliament, which means they could triple their representation. Even with just eight seats in the outgoing parliament, the far-right leader Marine Le Pen’s National Rally Party was on the verge of huge gains. According to estimates, 80-102 MPs were to be sent to the new parliament.

44 years old Macron hoped to end his second term through tax cuts, welfare reforms and an ambitious programme to raise the now-retired retirement age. As President Macron has maintained control over foreign policy without playing a leading role in countering the Russian invasion of Ukraine.