Elections - Parliamentary election in France enters first round
The much-anticipated parliamentary election in France has begun in the first round. Approximately 49.3 million eligible voters can cast their ballots on whether the Center-Right bloc of President Emmanuel Macron will continue to hold a majority in the National Assembly and form the government, or if a power shift in Paris is imminent and Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne will have to yield the field. The Far Right National Rally (RN) of Marine Le Pen sees chances of a majority in the Parliament and the position of the Premier. Macron's presidency is not at stake in the vote.
Polling stations opened on Sunday at 8:00 AM. In overseas territories, the voting began partly on Saturday due to time differences. Early estimates are expected for 8:00 PM.
Macron dissolved the National Assembly following the clear defeat of his Liberals in the European elections and the landslide victory of the far-right RN. The second and decisive round of voting is on July 7.
Macron hopes to expand his majority
President Macron hopes to build on his relative majority in the National Assembly through the vote. His ruling Center-Right bloc has been under immense pressure since losing its absolute majority two years ago. RN and the new Leftist New Popular Front aim for a government change.
Surveys suggest that Macron suffered another heavy defeat in the first round, with his Centrist bloc polling at 20-20.5% and only in third place. Le Pen's RN and its allies were significantly ahead, with 36-36.5%, followed by the New Popular Front with 29%.
The exact composition of the Parliament after the election is still uncertain. Fewer than the least 577 seats will be awarded in the first round. The decisive factor will be the runoff elections in the second round.
Despite this, projections suggest that the Far Right could be the strongest force in the National Assembly. Whether they could secure an absolute majority is unclear - especially since local alliances are often formed between the two rounds, which can influence the outcome. While the Left could remain stable, Macron's Center-Right bloc could lose seats.
The Far Right aims for government responsibility
Such an outcome would have significant consequences. The National Assembly is one of two French parliamentary chambers. It is involved in legislation and can bring down the government through a vote of no confidence. If another block besides Macron's Center-Right were to secure an absolute majority, Macron would be de facto forced to appoint a Premier from their ranks. This would result in a so-called cohabitation. Macron's power would significantly diminish, while the Premier would become more influential.
The Far Right explicitly aims to win the election and assume government responsibility. RN party leader Jordan Bardella aspires to be the Prime Minister. The election is therefore being closely watched in Brussels and Berlin.
The German economy is concerned about the consequences of the election, should the extreme Right or the extreme Left come to power. "In analyzing the economic policy proposals of the Right and the Left, German and French companies come to the same conclusion: France's attractiveness would suffer," said Patrick Brandmaier, the Managing Director of the German-French Industry and Trade Chamber, in Paris.
- The parliamentary election in France, which includes overseas voting, started on Sunday, with the first round of voting for the National Assembly.
- In the first round of the parliamentary election, Marine Le Pen's Far Right National Rally (RN) sees prospects of a majority in the Parliament and the Premier position.
- Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne and President Emmanuel Macron's Center-Right bloc are at risk of losing their majority in the National Assembly during the upcoming elections.
- Overseas territories began voting for the parliamentary election in France on Saturday due to time differences, and the first projections are expected on Sunday evening.
- Marine Le Pen, the leader of RN, explicitly aims to win the election and assume government responsibility, with her party member Jordan Bardella wanting to be the Prime Minister.
- A so-called cohabitation could occur if another block besides Macron's Center-Right secures an absolute majority in the National Assembly, diminishing Macron's power and making the Premier more influential.
- In the event of the extreme Right or extreme Left assuming power, the German economy is concerned about the consequences, with Patrick Brandmaier stating that France's attractiveness would suffer.
