Voters in France Turn Out in Droves for Snap Legislative Elections
In a high-stakes final round of snap legislative elections in France, voters flocked to the polls on Sunday in record numbers. The results of these elections could potentially force President Emmanuel Macron to govern alongside far-right opponents or lead to chronic political instability just weeks before the Paris Summer Olympics.
According to the Interior Ministry, turnout at midday was the highest in over two decades, reaching about 26.6 percent. This was a significant increase compared to the previous legislative elections in 2022, where the participation rate at the same time was less than 19 percent. The heightened interest in this election was also reflected in the slightly higher turnout compared to the first round of voting last week.
President Macron called for these elections for the 577-seat National Assembly, France’s lower house of Parliament, last month in a risky move that seemed to backfire after the initial round of voting. Most polls were set to close at 6 p.m. local time on Sunday, with nationwide seat projections expected shortly after 8 p.m.
One of the key questions in these elections is whether the far-right will secure enough seats for an absolute majority. The first round of voting saw the National Rally party leading the way, followed by a left-wing alliance called the New Popular Front, with Macron’s party and its allies coming in third. With over 300 districts having three-way races, the outcome remains uncertain.
If no party secures an absolute majority, France could be faced with a divided lower house with conflicting agendas, potentially leading to political deadlock. The possibility of a caretaker government or a broad cross-party coalition has been suggested, but the country is not accustomed to such arrangements.
The tense atmosphere surrounding the campaign, marked by racist incidents and acts of violence, has raised concerns about post-election protests turning violent. The authorities have deployed thousands of security forces to handle any potential unrest.
As the results of the snap legislative elections in France unfold, the future of President Macron’s second term hangs in the balance, with the potential for significant political shifts on the horizon.
