Kavita Bisht
French voters went to the polls on Sunday for the first round of high-stakes snap legislative elections, with the far-right National Rally (RN) party, led by Marine Le Pen, potentially gaining power for the first time since World War II.
Despite President Emmanuel Macron’s efforts to halt its rise, support for the anti-immigrant and eurosceptic RN has increased in the midst of mounting economic concerns and the current Ukrainian conflict. This election could signal a watershed moment in French politics, with 49 million eligible voters deciding the country’s future course.
Voting Day Details
Polling booths in mainland France started at 8:00 a.m. (0600 GMT) and will close after 12 hours. Voters in France’s overseas territories, which cover the globe, cast their ballots earlier this weekend.
In New Caledonia, a French Pacific island, voters lined up to vote amid high emotions following last month’s violent rioting. “The vote is decisive,” stated Cassandre Cazaux, a nurse. By lunchtime local time, turnout throughout the archipelago was 32.4 percent, a considerable rise from 13.06 percent in the 2022 legislative elections.
Notable figures, including former President Nicolas Sarkozy, Greens Party leader Marine Tondelier, and former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, were among the first to vote. Philippe, the mayor of Le Havre, was spotted smiling and conversing with residents on Sunday morning, highlighting his political ambitions.
Key Figures and Parties
The election for the 577 members in the National Assembly is a two-round process, with the final shape of the new parliament being determined after the second round on July 7. Current polls show that the RN is on track to win the most seats in the lower house, but it is unclear if the party can obtain an outright majority.
Final opinion polls show the RN obtaining 35 to 37 percent of the vote, compared to 27.5 to 29 percent for the left-wing New Popular Front alliance and 20 to 21 percent for Macron’s centrist camp. If the RN wins an outright larger part, Jordan Bardella, Le Pen’s 28-year-old protégé, might gotten to be Prime Serve, coming about in a strained “cohabitation” with Macron.
Polling and Projections
Many observers foresee a hung Assembly, which might lead to political gridlock and instability. Macron’s decision to hold a snap election following the RN’s good result in the European Parliament elections startled both supporters and opponents, adding to uncertainty in Europe’s second-largest economy. In June, the Paris Stock Exchange experienced its largest monthly slump in two years, falling 6.4 percent.
Implications and Reactions
In an editorial, French daily Le Monde urged citizens to mobilize against the far right, warning, “Yielding any power to it means nothing less than taking the risk of seeing everything that has been built and prevailed over more than two and a half centuries slowly being fixed.”
Activists and ordinary residents have expressed their alarm. Feminist activists demonstrated on Saturday at Paris’ Trocadero, chanting anti-extremist chants. In addition, more than 100,000 people marched in Paris for LGBTQ Pride, with some holding signs aimed at the far right. “It’s more important now to fight against hatred in all its forms,” said Themis Hallin-Mallet, a 19-year-old student.
The campaign has seen an increase in hate speech, intolerance, and bigotry. A viral video showing RN supporters verbally attacking a black woman has exacerbated tensions. Macron has condemned all forms of racism and anti-Semitism, highlighting the importance of this election.
Analysts link Le Pen’s efforts to improve the RN’s image with the party’s growing popularity. The RN’s platform focuses on increasing purchasing power, reducing immigration, and improving law enforcement.
Despite the tense political climate, Macron has defended his choice to hold emergency elections, saying that a far-right or hard-left victory may start a “civil war.” As France votes, the outcome is undetermined, with the second round on July 7 to determine the country’s future route.
