French voters turned out in record numbers for the first round of snap parliamentary elections on Sunday, with the outcome potentially ushering in a historic shift towards the far-right. The high turnout, a phenomenon not seen for decades, reflects the deep anxieties and divisions gripping French society. The elections were called by President Emmanuel Macron following the resounding defeat of his centrist forces in the European Parliament elections earlier this month. This gamble, aimed at regaining political momentum, could backfire as opinion polls predict Macron’s alliance to finish a distant third behind the surging National Rally (RN) party and a new left-wing coalition.
The RN, led by Marine Le Pen’s protege Jordan Bardella, has capitalized on public concerns over rising inflation, immigration, and the war in Ukraine, with support for their anti-immigration and eurosceptic platform skyrocketing. A victory for the RN would mark the first time a far-right party has held power in France since the Nazi occupation in World War II. The prospect of such a radical shift has spurred a surge in voter turnout, with 59.39 percent casting their ballot by 5:00 pm (1500 GMT), significantly higher than the participation at the same stage in the last parliamentary elections in 2022. This turnout is projected to reach 67.5-69.7 percent by the time polling stations close, making it the highest participation in a regular format legislative election in France since 1981.
The second round of voting on July 7 will determine the composition of the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament. Despite the RN’s strong showing in the first round, it remains uncertain if they will secure an outright majority. Macron, along with his wife Brigitte, voted in Le Touquet in northern France, engaging with supporters while Le Pen was seen celebrating with voters in Henin-Beaumont, a far-right stronghold in the north.
Meanwhile, the left-wing alliance, formed in a last-minute effort to combat the rise of the far-right, appears to have gained momentum, potentially posing a significant challenge to the RN. With the final outcome hanging in the balance, the second round promises to be a tight contest, with the fate of France’s political landscape at stake. The election results will have profound implications for the country’s future, influencing economic policies, social reforms, and France’s role within the European Union.
