The parliamentary elections in France have seen a surge in voter participation, with the turnout reaching 26 percent by midday on Sunday. This is the highest level of turnout since the 1981 parliamentary elections and marks a reversal of the downward trend observed in recent years. According to Ipsos polling institute director Mathieu Gallard, this increase in voter engagement is particularly noticeable in Paris, where the turnout reached 25.48 percent compared to 12.8 percent during the previous elections.
The significance of these elections is evident, given that one of the two major powers of the European Union may end up with a populist right-wing government. In the first round of elections for the National Assembly of France, President Emmanuel Macron aims to increase his Renaissance movement’s majority in the lower house while far-right leader Marine Le Pen is confident that her party can secure an absolute majority in parliament.
Polling stations opened at 8 am on Sunday with 49.3 million eligible voters in France. Macron called for a snap election following significant gains made by Le Pen’s National Rally in the European Parliament elections last month. Currently, pre-election polls show that Le Pen’s National Rally is ahead of new left-wing alliance, New People’s Front and centrist Renaissance movement led by Macron.
Candidates who secure an absolute majority in the first round will enter parliament while outcomes for most constituencies will only be known after the second round on July 7th. While Macron’s second term as president extends until 2027 regardless of election results, he may face challenges if his party support weakens significantly due to competition from Le Pen and other candidates running under different banners.
Concerns about potential violence on election day have led many shop owners to barricade their businesses across France as they anticipate a high turnout and competitive race between Macron’s Renaissance movement and Le Pen’s RN.
This political shift could have significant implications for France’s future relationship with other European countries and its domestic policies.
