Gilles Pennelle, Director General of the National Rally, Resigns After Mixed Results

These are the first consequences of the second round of legislative elections in Marine Le Pen’s party. The general director of the National Rally (RN) Gilles Pennelle has resigned, France Télévisions learned from the party on Tuesday, July 9, confirming information from the WorldElected a month ago during the European elections of June 9, he retains his position as European deputy.

The politician was the main architect of the RN’s “Matignon Plan”, a list of candidates for the legislative elections in the country’s 577 constituencies, planned in case a dissolution occurs. His resignation is a consequence of the flaws in this plan, while many far-right candidates have been singled out for their anti-Semitic or racist remarks. The RN and its allies won 143 seats on Sunday, ranking behind the New Popular Front and the Macronist camp, far from the predictions of the polls.

RN President Jordan Bardella admitted on Monday that he had “commissioned” errors during the early legislative election campaign. “I take responsibility for both the victory in the European elections and yesterday’s defeat,” explained the MEP to the media, in front of the RN HQ.