Everything is blamed on President Emmanuel Macron as France catches its breath after the first round of the parliamentary election.
The final battle is portrayed as the extremists' fight.
Monday's French newspaper headlines are serious. "After the shock: Block!" urges the left-wing newspaper Libération. "RN at the gates of power", notes the regional newspaper La Voix du Nord. "The end of an era", writes Les Echos – with a telling picture of a half-hidden President Emmanuel Macron with gloomy eyes.
Macron's decision to call for new elections after the EU election in early June has been heavily criticized and is now receiving even more criticism.
"The head of state has thrown France under the bus", writes Libération.
"Parliamentary chaos – thanks, Macron!", sneers the right-wing magazine Le Point with biting irony.
The Center is Disappearing?
Macron became president in 2017 by gathering both left and right in a centrist movement at a time when the traditional major parties were deeply unpopular and shaken by internal struggles.
Now, even the center is disappearing as no one wants to be associated with a president accused of only benefiting the wealthy and his own ego.
What remains is a far-right that is stronger than ever and a "people's front" that gathers everyone from environmentalists to the far-left.
"The battle is between (Jordan) Bardella and (Jean-Luc) Mélenchon", notes the right-wing newspaper Le Figaro, referring to the party leaders of RN and the left-wing party LFI.
"The Situation is Alarming"
For many in the center, it's like the plague or cholera. RN is accused of being racists and anti-republicans. LFI is accused of anti-Semitism and homophobia. The tone is high and many fear unrest.
In northern French Lille, voter Grigory sighs heavily outside the cathedral on his way to work.
I don't think the "far-left" is that extreme. We have fallen victim to propaganda from certain TV channels and media companies. But it's clear that the situation is alarming. I'm not afraid for myself, but worried about my fellow human beings, says Grigory.
Eight men have ruled France as presidents since the current state system – the Fifth Republic – was introduced after a referendum in 1958. Many have started under great popularity, but become increasingly disliked over the years. Here are the eight:
1959-69: Charles De Gaulle
1969-74: Georges Pompidou
1974-81: Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
1981-95: François Mitterrand
1995-2007: Jacques Chirac
2007-12: Nicolas Sarkozy
2012-17: François Hollande
2017-: Emmanuel Macron
Note: The terms of office were initially seven years, but were reduced to five years from 2002 onwards. De Gaulle resigned in 1969 after a lost referendum, while Pompidou died in office in 1974. In both cases, the then Speaker of the Senate Alain Poher took over as temporary president.
