Voting in the elections to determine the owners of 501 of the 577 seats in the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, began at 08:00 local time. The ballot boxes set up to elect the new members of parliament and the country’s new prime minister in the country, which has approximately 49 million voters, will close at 20:00 in major cities and at 18:00 in smaller cities. The first results are expected to be known by nightfall, while the official results will be announced tomorrow.
THE FAR RIGHT APPEARS IN THE FRONT
The far-right National Rally Party still has a chance of becoming the number one force in parliament, but it seems unlikely they will be able to reach the absolute majority that would require 289 seats. According to recent polls, in the second round, the far-right National Rally Party is expected to get between 170 and 230 seats, the New Popular Front between 145 and 190 seats, Macron’s Renaissance party between 115 and 150 seats, and the Republicans between 25 and 50 seats.
RN WAS THE FIRST PARTY IN THE FIRST ROUND
According to data from the French Interior Ministry, last week’s elections saw a record 66.71 percent turnout. In the first round, the far-right National Rally (RN), led by 28-year-old Jordan Bardella, came in first with 33 percent of the vote. The New Popular Front (Nouveau Front Populaire), a left-wing coalition consisting of Jean Luc Melenchon’s Unyielding France (LFI), the Green Party (EEVL), the Socialist Party (PS) and the Communist Party (PCF), finished second with 28 percent of the vote, while the Ensemble alliance, which includes Macron’s Renaissance Party, came in third with 20 percent of the vote. The owners of the 76 seats in the National Assembly were also determined in the first round.
LE PEN IS IN FUTURE OF ABSOLUTE MAJORITY
Marine Le Pen, the President of the RN National Assembly Group, said in a statement regarding the RN’s success: “I am happy for the high turnout that strengthened the result of this evening. The French have shown with a clear vote that they want to turn the page after seven years in power. This result is the first step towards a choice for change. The inhabitants of the 11th constituency of Pas-de-Calais give me the honour of being elected this evening” and expressed her desire for an absolute majority in the second round.
(AA)
