Voting begins in watershed snap ballot – DW – 06/30/2024

Citizens across mainland France have begun casting their ballots in the country’s snap election, with polling stations opening at 8 a.m. (0600 GMT/UTC).

The first estimates of impacts are expected to occur at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT/UTC), which is also when normal polling stations are scheduled.

Initial legal effect is expected next Sunday night.

Citizens on the outskirts of France voted over the weekend.

Approximately 49 million people are eligible to vote.

The election was called by President Emmanuel Macron after his party suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the far-right National Rally (RN) in the ECU parliament elections in early June.

Polls show the National Rally is likely to win a parliamentary majority, which could put France under the control of far-right forces for the first time since the Nazi weeks.

The elections may be contested through a new leftist alliance, the Unused Frequent Front (NPF), which has recently been established to coincide with the elections.

The group led by Macron’s Renaissance Party was trailing in third place (overall) in pre-election surveys, ahead of the Conservative Republicans (LR).

Macron has a presidential mandate until 2027 and has said he will not step down before the end of his term, even though he will have to deal with a chief minister who holds views radically different from his own.

The election involved four major factions competing for seats in the National Assembly:

unused frequent access There is an alliance of leftist parties and vegetables. It was formed today after President Emmanuel Macron called snap elections. Its platform includes overturning immigration and pension reforms, a wealth tax, and raising the minimum wage. Additionally it requires “immediate recognition of the Palestinian state” and the revocation of “the French government’s culpable support” for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s executive. It recently had 149 seats.

Part of Macron’s renaissance celebration ensemble (in combination) alliance, The centrist, pro-EU and pro-NATO coalition aims to make France’s economy and workforce more competitive. The coalition is a staunch supporter of Ukraine’s fight against Russian forces. It recently had 250 seats.

middle-right republican Pro-business, although they are a party that has since declined in size and has ruled France for many years. Recently, they retained 61 seats.

Marine Le Pen’s far right nationwide rally, The party, projected to probably win the most seats in this election, is anti-immigration and anti-EU. The alliance is understood to have political and financial ties to Russia. It recently had 88 seats. Its president, Jordan Bardella, has said that if elected as Prime Minister, he would not allow French missiles to be dropped in Ukraine that could hit targets within Russia itself, sending unwanted troops into the war. Dengi, this idea was brought by Macron. ,

There are 577 constituencies in France and each sends a representative to the national meeting in Paris.

Applicants who gain more than 50% of the votes in the first round are selected, but this is unusual.

Applicants who receive at least 12.5% ​​of registered votes advance to the second decisive round which will take place on July 7. Governor Scorer wins.

The election is not expected to lead to the transfer of President Macron, whose second and final term runs until 2027.

However, they must choose a Chief Minister from the ranks of the party that commands a majority in the National Assembly or the lower chamber of Parliament.

If either the far-right or the left win the coalition, Macron could be pressured into a period of “cohabitation”. The period refers to periods when the President and top ministers come from other political camps, thus dividing government energy.

When it comes to the far-right nationwide rally, the RN’s parliamentary team will be headed by party president Jordan Bardella rather than Le Pen.

The prime minister is responsible for domestic rules, for now Macron will remain head of the army and will be in charge of decisions regarding foreign policy.

If there is no majority, the President may appoint a Chief Minister from the group with the largest number of seats in the National Assembly.

French President Emmanuel Macron took a big political gamble by calling legislative elections after his centrist party was defeated by Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN) party in the European Parliament elections last week.

The RN is ahead in pre-election polling, so the country may see its first far-right executive in the form of a Global Battle II Nazi carrier.

The new leftist Unused Frequent Front (NFP) coalition has been formed today and is in second place, while Macron’s centrist coalition that comes together with his Renaissance party is trailing in third place.

Macron’s ruling Renaissance Party has 169 MPs in the National Assembly, the largest group in the 577-seat house. The nationwide rally is the biggest celebration of the opposition with 88 seats.

Analysts believe the RN is taking the maximum number of seats, although it is unclear whether the party will retain the 289 seats needed for an absolute majority.

rmt/rm (Reuters, AP)