Polls opened in France on Sunday for the first round of snap parliamentary elections, with the far-right party of Marine Le Pen, the National Rally (RN), eyeing a historic victory.
As Russia’s war against Ukraine enters its third year and inflation rises, support for the anti-immigration and eurosceptic RN has surged despite President Emmanuel Macron’s efforts to curb its influence.
Polling stations across mainland France opened at 8:00 am (0600 GMT) and will close 12 hours later, with immediate projections expected to predict the results accurately. French overseas territories voted earlier in the weekend, and around 49 million people are eligible to vote.
Cassandre Cazaux, a nurse from New Caledonia, described the elections as “decisive” amidst ongoing tensions following recent riots. She expressed uncertainty about voter turnout despite the significance of the polls.
The election process for the 577 National Assembly seats involves two rounds, with the final shape of the new parliament becoming clear after the second round on July 7.
Current polls suggest the RN is on track to win the most seats in the National Assembly but may fall short of an outright majority.
A high voter turnout is expected, with final polls showing the RN at 35-37 percent, the left-wing New Popular Front alliance at 27.5-29 percent, and Macron’s centrist camp at 20-21 percent.
If the RN secures a majority, its leader, Jordan Bardella, could become prime minister, leading to a tense cohabitation with Macron.
Macron plans to convene a government meeting on Monday to determine the next steps, according to government sources. Analysts predict a year of political chaos with a hung Assembly, a situation unprecedented in recent French politics.
Macron’s call for snap elections followed the RN’s strong performance in the European Parliament elections, creating uncertainty in France’s economy. The Paris stock exchange saw its largest monthly decline in two years, dropping 6.4 percent in June.
French daily Le Monde urged mobilization against the far right, warning of the risks to France’s democratic achievements.
Activists from the Femen feminist collective and participants in an LGBTQ Pride march in Paris protested against the far right, highlighting a rise in hate speech and intolerance during the campaign.
Despite Macron’s warnings about potential civil unrest with a far-right or hard-left victory, support for his centrist camp has dwindled. Meanwhile, left-wing parties have united to form the New Popular Front, echoing the 1936 alliance against fascism. Le Pen’s efforts to rebrand the RN have paid off, with promises to enhance purchasing power, curb immigration, and strengthen law and order.
Macron remains defiant, vowing to serve out his term until 2027 regardless of the election outcome.
