Macron alliance set to lose parliamentary majority: Projections

French President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist coalition projected to wins 224 out of 577 seats in the National Assembly: IPSOS projections.

French President Emmanuel Macron’s alliance got the most seats in the final round of the parliamentary election on Sunday, but lost its parliamentary majority, projections show.

The projections, which are based on partial results, show Macron’s candidates winning 224 out of 577 seats in the National Assembly, preliminary election results from IPSOS show.

Polls were held nationwide on Sunday to select members of the National Assembly, the most powerful branch of France’s Parliament.

The result means that Macron’s coalition will be the biggest party in the next Assembly, but is still short of the 289 seats needed for an absolute majority.

Falling short of the majority means that Macron may be forced into alliances with other parties.

Sunday’s election result needed to be decisive for Macron’s second-term agenda following his re-election in April, with the 44-year-old president needing a majority to be able to deliver on promised tax cuts and welfare reform and raise the retirement age.

These parliamentary elections have largely been defined by voter apathy – with over half the electorate staying home for the first round, and broadsides between candidates further turning people away.

Turnout was at 38.11 percent at 15:00 GMT, the interior ministry said on Sunday. The figure was down on the 39.42 percent recorded in the first round on June 12 at the same stage, although up on the 35.33 percent recorded in 2017.