The five ministers who came in third place behind the National Rally have withdrawn.

On Sunday, the Minister for Overseas Territories, Marie Guévenoux, and the Minister Delegate for Urban Affairs, Sabrina Agresti-Roubache, announced their withdrawal.

At least 200 candidates qualified for the second round of the legislative elections, almost all of them left-wing or Macronists, had withdrawn on Tuesday, July 2, in most cases in order to prevent a three-way race and to counter the National Rally (RN), according to a provisional count by franceinfo. Among them are five ministers who came in third place behind Marine Le Pen’s party.

From Sunday, the Minister responsible for Overseas Territories, Marie Guévenouxwho came in third place with 27.11% of the vote behind the NFP-EELV candidate, Julie Ozenne (37.60%) and the RN candidate Paul-Henri Merrien (29.96%), announced on X that she was withdrawing in the face of the “risk that a victory of the National Rally represents”. “We must do everything to ensure that the candidates from the Republican arc who are able to win next Sunday win,” she pleaded in a statement.

Same decision, same day, for the Minister Delegate for the City, Sabrina Agresti-Roubache, arrived in third position in the 1st constituency of Marseille, haswith 23.61% of the votes, behind the RN candidate, Monique Griseti (45.54%) and the NFP candidate, Pascaline Lécorché, (26.90%). “Obviously, I am withdrawing and under these conditions, I say it very clearly, in my constituency, not one vote for the National Rally”said this close friend of the Macron couple.

The day after, Fadila Khattabi, Minister Delegate for Disabled People, followed suit. The outgoing MP, who was standing in the 3rd constituency of Côte-d’Or, finished in third place with 23.81% of the vote, against the NFP candidate Pierre Pribetich (29.59%) and the RN-LR candidate Thierry Coudert (35.44%).True to my values ​​and with my head held high, I am withdrawing from these legislative elections to block the extreme right.” she said on X.

Others waited until Tuesday, a few hours before the deadline for applications, to make their decision known. This is the case of the Minister Delegate for Local Authorities, Dominique Faure, hascame in third place with 28.99% in the 10th constituency of Haute-Garonne, who announced the withdrawal of his candidacy in the second round to counter the RN, which came second (30.37%), behind the socialist representative of the New Popular Front (36.24%).

As for Patricia Miralles, Secretary of State for Veterans and Remembrance, who had obtained 22.54% in the 1st constituency of Hérault, in third position behind the LR-RN candidate, Josyan Oliva (22.86%) and the NFP candidate, Jean-Louis Roumegas (34.04%), she announced on Tuesday afternoon that she was withdrawing. “For our activists, our voters and France, we are withdrawing our candidacy”wrote the outgoing MP on X.