France votes in second round of parliamentary polls as far right eyes power

Opinion polls have forecast the far-right National Rally will win the most votes but likely fall short of a majority.

Voting has opened for France’s parliamentary run-off election, which will be decisive in determining its political future that can see the far right become the largest party in parliament for the first time.

Voting began at 8am (06:00 GMT) on Sunday and will close between 6pm (16:00 GMT) in rural areas and 8pm (18:00) in big cities. About 30,000 police, including 5,000 in Paris, have been deployed across the country ahead of the voting.

The elections could leave France with its first far-right government since the Nazi occupation in World War II if the National Rally wins, and its 28-year-old leader Jordan Bardella becomes prime minister.

The party came out on top in the previous week’s first-round voting, followed by a coalition of center-left, hard-left and Green parties, and President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance.

Macron called the snap elections three years in advance after his political alliance was trounced in June’s European Parliament elections, a gamble which many observers believe backfired.

Many in France remain baffled over why Macron called an election he was under no obligation to hold that could end with the RN doubling its presence in parliament and his contingent of centrist MPs halving in number.

But the president, known for his penchant for theatrical gestures, appears intent on executing what he calls a “clarification” of French politics that he hopes will eventually leave three clear camps of the far right, centre and the hard left.

Opinion polls are forecasting a victory for RN and its allies, but it is still unclear if it can secure an absolute majority.

The New Popular Front (NFP), an alliance of left-wing parties led by Jean-Luc Melenchon, is projected to be in the second position, with Macron’s Ensemble (Together) alliance forecast to finish third.

Initial polling projections are expected on Sunday night, with early official results expected late on Sunday and early on Monday.

Racism, antisemitism mar campaign

A bit over 49 million people are registered to vote in the elections, which will determine which party controls the National Assembly, France’s influential lower house of parliament, and who will be prime minister.

If support is further eroded for Macron’s weak centrist majority, he will be forced to share power with parties opposed to most of his pro-business, pro-European Union policies.

Racism and antisemitism have marred the electoral campaign, along with Russian cybercampaigns, and more than 50 candidates reported being physically attacked — highly unusual for France.

The heightened tensions come while France is celebrating a very special summer: Paris is about to host exceptionally ambitious Olympic Games, the national soccer team reached the semifinal of the Euro 2024 championship, and the Tour de France is racing around the country alongside the Olympic torch.

Voters residing in the Americas and in France’s overseas territories of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyana and French Polynesia voted on Saturday.

Another possibility after Sunday’s polls is that no party wins a clear majority, resulting in a hung parliament. That could prompt Macron to pursue coalition negotiations with the center-left or name a technocratic government with no political affiliations.

Regardless of what happens, however, Macron said he would not step down and will stay president until his term ends in 2027.