Far-right on brink of power: France’s first round of legislative elections

The first round of the legislative elections called early by President Emmanuel Macron began on Sunday in polling stations. Over 49.5 million citizens are called to elect their 577 deputies of the National Assembly, and the results could see the far right come to power for the first time through democratic means.

The polls indicate that the far-right National Rally (RN) leads with a voting intention of 36%, even more than the 31.4% obtained in the European elections on June 9. The New Popular Front (NFP), which represents the left, has an average of 28.2% in the polls, while the Macronist bloc is further behind, with an average of 20.3%, a sharp drop compared to the elections two years ago.

The result of this round will provide a general picture of voter opinion, but not necessarily of the overall composition of the National Assembly. It is extremely difficult to make predictions because of the complicated voting system and because parties will work between rounds to form alliances in some constituencies or exit others. With information from EFE and Associated Press, it’s clear that these elections are crucial for shaping France’s future direction and will have a significant impact on both domestic and international politics.