The Left’s election alliance Nupes has a weak lead after Sunday’s parliamentary elections in France, reports Le Monde.
On Monday morning, the alliance has 26.10 percent of the vote, while Macron’s alliance Ensemble (Together) has 25.81 percent.
The left-wing alliance includes Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s left-wing party FI, the environmental party EÉLV, the socialist party PS and the old communist party PCF. Should Mélenchon succeed with his alliance, he is likely to become prime minister and a brake on Macron’s policies, such as the plan to raise the retirement age and provide tax breaks.
According to the polls, Macron’s alliance was estimated to receive 25–26 percent of the votes in the first round – the same as for Nupes, reports the news agency AP.
Despite the even situation, the structure of the French electoral system means that Macron’s electoral alliance is still expected to receive the most seats in the second round, on 19 June.
According to polling stations, turnout is believed to have been at a record low, slightly above 47 percent.