On track to set a record: Voter turnout up 20 percentage points First drop in the evening
The first round of parliamentary elections in France takes place on Sunday. The first forecasts will be available at 8 p.m. We are reporting continuously.
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The first round of early parliamentary elections in France witnessed an exceptionally large turnout. The Interior Ministry said that by 5pm on Sunday, about 59.4 percent of the 49.5 million eligible voters had cast their ballots. In the last elections held two years ago, the turnout rate was 39.4%, 20 percentage points lower.
Security forces in France prepared for the possibility of unrest in some of the country's major cities on the evening of the first round of elections.
It is uncertain what exactly the parliament will look like after the election. Very few of the 577 seats were up for grabs in the first round. In many constituencies, runoff elections are crucial. While only five seats were won in the first round of the regular parliamentary elections two years ago, according to pollster Ipsos, between 80 and 90 seats could be won this time around. This is due to the expected high voter turnout and a stronger focus on the three political alliances.
In the first round of parliamentary elections in France, one in four eligible voters had cast their ballots by midday. As of 12 noon, voter turnout had reached 25.9 percent, the Interior Ministry in Paris announced on Sunday. This represents an increase of 7.47 percentage points over the same time in the previous parliamentary elections two years ago. Given the importance of the poll, record levels of voter turnout were already expected.
A woman casts her ballot in Strasbourg.
Photography: Jean-François Badias (AP/Keystone)
About 49.3 million registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots. The last polling stations close in the evening at 8 p.m. Election results are also projected.
Several leading politicians have already cast their votes in the morning, including Macron, Le Pen, Attal and National Rally leader Jordan Bardella. Former presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande also voted in the morning. The last polling stations close in the evening at 8 p.m. The election results are then also projected.
In Nice, the head of an electoral office was attacked with a punch by an election worker who wanted to prevent the opening of the election office, as announced by Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi. The police arrested the attacker. (Department of Political Affairs)
In response to the defeat of his liberal forces in the European elections and the landslide victory of right-wing nationalists, President Emmanuel Macron abruptly dissolved the National Assembly on June 9 and announced new elections. France is now scheduled to elect members of the National Assembly on June 30 and July 7.
The 577 deputies form the lower house of parliament, which also includes the Senate. Majority voting applies, which favours the largest parties. About 50 million French people are invited to vote.
In total, more than 4,000 candidates are competing. Appointing them to electoral alliances is not always easy. In the current election campaign, the party landscape has been significantly restructured.
Most polling stations close at 6pm on Sunday, but in Paris and some other major cities they stay open until 8pm. This means that relatively reliable forecasts are already available at 8pm.
The right-wing populist National Rally party is leading by a wide margin with 36 percent, according to the poll. The left-green electoral alliance, the New Popular Front, is coming in at 29 percent, while the government camp is far behind with 19.5 percent, according to an Ipsos poll. Voter turnout could therefore increase from just under 48 percent in 2022 to as much as 65 percent.
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The French National Assembly has less importance in French political life than the National Assembly in Switzerland. This is due to the strong role of the president, who does not have to be accountable to Parliament. In the case of foreign missions, for example, the President only has to inform the National Assembly, no later than three days after the start of the mission. Only the extension of the process must be approved by MPs.
Historically, the history of the National Assembly dates back to the French Revolution. Its first important law was the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in August 1789. Today, it and the Senate constitute the French Parliament. It is the more influential of the two chambers and has the final say when it comes to voting on legislative texts.
Each of the 577 representatives represents their constituencies. During session periods, they usually stay in Paris from Tuesday to Wednesday or Thursday and the rest of the time in their constituencies. MPs are no longer allowed to be mayors or EU representatives at the same time, as was the case previously.
However, members of the government can stand for election and then send their deputy to the National Assembly. If they leave the government prematurely, they will still have their place as members of parliament. However, if they lose the election, they will usually also vacate their ministerial position.
The National Assembly may propose, debate and pass laws. It also aims to monitor the work of the government, including through “questions to the government”. Unlike the Senate, it has the right to vote no confidence in the Prime Minister. (Department of Political Affairs)
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