Voting in the second round of the French parliamentary election began on Sunday with the far-right National Rally (RN) eyeing to gain more while President Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance party is looking for its comeback.
The voting has already started as the polling booths opened at 11:30 am (0600 GMT) on Sunday and will close at 6 pm in towns and small cities and 9:30 pm (1800 GMT) in larger cities.
After his party’s defeat by the far right in the recent European Parliament vote, Macron dissolved the parliament and called for two rounds of snap elections, three years ahead of time. His gamble believed to be back fired as the opinion polls forecasted that the RN will win the most votes.
What happened in the first round?
On June 30, the far-right National Rally (RN) party emerged victorious with more than 30 percent of the vote.
Marine Le Pen’s RN was winning around 34% of the vote, which is ahead of its leftist and centrist rivals, including Macron’s Together alliance. Macron’s alliance was seen winning 20.5 % to 23 % while New Popular Front (NFP), a left-wing coalition, was projected to win around 29% of the vote, Reuters reported citing exit polls.
At Le Pen’s Henin-Beaumont constituency in northern France, supporters waved French flags and sung the Marseillaise, reported Reuters. “The French have shown their willingness to turn the page on a contemptuous and corrosive power,” Le Pen told the cheering crowd.
Opinion polls prediction
According to the opinion polls, the RN is expected to secure the highest number of seats compared to other parties. However, the party’s lead has diminished as its competitors have joined forces to create a unified opposition against the RN. It appears unlikely that the RN will obtain a functional majority in the parliament.
In an effort to increase the chances of the leading anti-RN candidate in their respective districts, the left-wing New Popular Front and a coalition of centrist parties backing President Emmanuel Macron have withdrawn over 200 candidates from the second-round contests.
In the past, the far right has benefited from a more divided political landscape. The most recent polls, conducted after the withdrawal of candidates, indicate that the strategy is proving effective. The most probable outcome is a hung parliament, with the far right failing to secure an absolute majority.
This potential result would lead to the highest level of political uncertainty.
What will happen if RN wins election?
As per the opinion polls, the RN is projected to win the election and if it happens then its chairman, Jordan Bardella, would become the next prime minister.
After winning the party may implement their anti-immigration, eurosceptic agenda, reported Reuters.
In this scenario, Macron’s prime minister, Gabriel Attal, would have to resign and according to the Article 8 of the Constitution, Macron would name a new prime minister who would then be tasked with forming a government.
Macron would have the right to veto a nomination if he deemed the person unfit for the role.
The RN has nuanced its stance on what it would do if it finished just shy of an absolute majority. Bardella had said he would not lead an unstable minority government, but the RN’s Marine Le Pen has opened the door to courting other lawmakers if it is only lacking a small number of seats, according to Reuters.
What are the key issues that drove support for the National Rally?
The National Rally’s platform, which includes stringent immigration controls and a nationalist agenda, has resonated with voters disillusioned with traditional parties and concerned about issues like immigration and national identity.
What will happen if no one gets majority?
If no one gets the majority then, France could face political paralysis with little or no legislation being adopted. A caretaker government might run basic daily affairs, and Macron would have to navigate complex political negotiations.
Unlike other European countries, France has never had a broad coalition government in its modern political history, according to Reuters.
The voting has already started as the polling booths opened at 11:30 am (0600 GMT) on Sunday and will close at 6 pm in towns and small cities and 9:30 pm (1800 GMT) in larger cities.
After his party’s defeat by the far right in the recent European Parliament vote, Macron dissolved the parliament and called for two rounds of snap elections, three years ahead of time. His gamble believed to be back fired as the opinion polls forecasted that the RN will win the most votes.
What happened in the first round?
On June 30, the far-right National Rally (RN) party emerged victorious with more than 30 percent of the vote.
Marine Le Pen’s RN was winning around 34% of the vote, which is ahead of its leftist and centrist rivals, including Macron’s Together alliance. Macron’s alliance was seen winning 20.5 % to 23 % while New Popular Front (NFP), a left-wing coalition, was projected to win around 29% of the vote, Reuters reported citing exit polls.
At Le Pen’s Henin-Beaumont constituency in northern France, supporters waved French flags and sung the Marseillaise, reported Reuters. “The French have shown their willingness to turn the page on a contemptuous and corrosive power,” Le Pen told the cheering crowd.
Opinion polls prediction
According to the opinion polls, the RN is expected to secure the highest number of seats compared to other parties. However, the party’s lead has diminished as its competitors have joined forces to create a unified opposition against the RN. It appears unlikely that the RN will obtain a functional majority in the parliament.
In an effort to increase the chances of the leading anti-RN candidate in their respective districts, the left-wing New Popular Front and a coalition of centrist parties backing President Emmanuel Macron have withdrawn over 200 candidates from the second-round contests.
In the past, the far right has benefited from a more divided political landscape. The most recent polls, conducted after the withdrawal of candidates, indicate that the strategy is proving effective. The most probable outcome is a hung parliament, with the far right failing to secure an absolute majority.
This potential result would lead to the highest level of political uncertainty.
What will happen if RN wins election?
As per the opinion polls, the RN is projected to win the election and if it happens then its chairman, Jordan Bardella, would become the next prime minister.
After winning the party may implement their anti-immigration, eurosceptic agenda, reported Reuters.
In this scenario, Macron’s prime minister, Gabriel Attal, would have to resign and according to the Article 8 of the Constitution, Macron would name a new prime minister who would then be tasked with forming a government.
Macron would have the right to veto a nomination if he deemed the person unfit for the role.
The RN has nuanced its stance on what it would do if it finished just shy of an absolute majority. Bardella had said he would not lead an unstable minority government, but the RN’s Marine Le Pen has opened the door to courting other lawmakers if it is only lacking a small number of seats, according to Reuters.
What are the key issues that drove support for the National Rally?
The National Rally’s platform, which includes stringent immigration controls and a nationalist agenda, has resonated with voters disillusioned with traditional parties and concerned about issues like immigration and national identity.
What will happen if no one gets majority?
If no one gets the majority then, France could face political paralysis with little or no legislation being adopted. A caretaker government might run basic daily affairs, and Macron would have to navigate complex political negotiations.
Unlike other European countries, France has never had a broad coalition government in its modern political history, according to Reuters.
