Despite big boost at the polls, Macron still faces hurdles

FRENCH President Emmanuel Macron's upstart party, En Marche! (Forward!), won a stunning victory in Sunday's legislative elections. With this latest big boost, the youngest president in the six decade-long Fifth Republic has transformed the country's political landscape in a matter of weeks and has the potential to become one of the country's most successful ever political leaders.

Yet, his ultimate success in the coming years is still by no means guaranteed. This is not least because new legislators representing En Marche! (whose average age is early to mid-40s compared to the 60-70s of the outgoing lawmakers in the lower chamber) are drawn from a broad spectrum of political views and the cohesiveness of the bloc is uncertain.

Moreover, France's political mood remains volatile and one indicator of remaining voter unease is the exceptionally low turnout in the legislative elections, estimated at 43 per cent. Although the electorate has decided to favour hope over anger in this ballot, the tide could still turn against Mr Macron if he fails to address widespread anti-establishment discontent fuelled by economic pain which has seen the country suffer years of double-digit unemployment but also low growth.