Paris, France – Voters in France went to the polls on Sunday for the first round of a crucial parliamentary election that could potentially shift the power to nationalist and far-right parties for the first time since World War II. The outcome of this election, which concludes on July 7, has the potential to impact European financial markets, Western support for Ukraine, and the management of France’s nuclear arsenal and global military force.
The election comes at a time when many French voters are expressing frustration over economic concerns, inflation, and President Emmanuel Macron’s leadership, which is perceived as out-of-touch and arrogant. Marine Le Pen’s National Rally party has capitalized on this discontent, utilizing online platforms such as TikTok to reach a wide audience and dominating pre-election polls.
Challenging Macron’s centrist alliance, the New Popular Front has emerged as a new coalition on the left. With 49.5 million registered voters participating in the election, they will select 577 members of the National Assembly, France’s lower house of parliament, through a two-round voting process.
The election campaign, marked by a rise in hate speech, commenced early on Sunday in France’s overseas territories, with polling stations opening on the mainland at 8 a.m. (0600 GMT). The first polling projections are expected at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT), following the closure of final polling stations, with official results anticipated later that night.
In New Caledonia, where nine individuals lost their lives during a period of unrest, elections closed early due to an extended curfew until July 8. The violence in the Pacific territory was ignited by fears among the Indigenous Kanak people of being further marginalized by constitutional amendments and changes to voting lists proposed by Macron’s government.
Macron’s decision to hold the election early, following his party’s defeat in the European Parliament election, was intended to rally moderate forces against the far right. However, pre-election polls suggest that the National Rally is gaining momentum and stands a chance at securing a parliamentary majority.
The election results from the first round will provide insight into voter sentiment, though the overall composition of the next National Assembly remains uncertain due to the intricate voting system and potential party alliances between the two rounds. The rise of support for Le Pen’s party poses a significant challenge, with the possibility of Macron having to navigate a power-sharing arrangement known as “cohabitation” if the National Rally secures a majority.