<p>Voters in France headed to the polls on Sunday (Jun 30) to cast their ballots in the first round of the high-stakes snap parliamentary elections which could usher in the country’s first far-right government since World War Two.</p>

<h2><strong>About the snap&nbsp;polls</strong></h2>

<p>The polling stations across mainland France&nbsp;opened at 8:00 am (local time) and will close 12 hours later. The polls will be closed earlier in small towns and later in the bigger cities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Subsequently, projections which usually predict the result with a degree of accuracy, will be released. However, France’s electoral system can make it difficult to predict the distribution of seats that each party may secure in the 577-seat National Assembly, parliament’s lower house.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Voters in France’s overseas territories which span across the world cast their ballots earlier in the weekend. The final results will not be known until the end of voting on July 7.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>High-stakes election</strong></h2>

<p>Earlier this month, French President Emmanuel Macron stunned the nation when he called for a snap poll after his centrist alliance lost against Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN) in the European elections.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Le Pen’s eurosceptic, anti-immigrant party has been operating on the sidelines for years but now has a good chance of winning.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Three major political blocs are competing in this election – Le Pen’s RN, Macron’s centrist alliance, and the New Popular Front coalition that includes centre-left, greens and hard-left parties.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Opinion polls show that RN has a chance of winning an absolute majority or at least 289 out of the 577 seats in the National Assembly.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A report by AFP citing the final opinion poll ahead of the election gave RN between 35 per cent and 37 per cent of the vote, followed by 27.5-29 per cent for the recently formed New Popular Front alliance and 20-21 per cent for Macron’s party.&nbsp;</p>

<p>France also witnessed massive demonstrations&nbsp;against both the far right and the French president after the announcement of the snap polls. A high turnout is expected in this election.</p>

<p>The outcome of this election is important as despite Macron’s presidency which will continue until 2027, the National Assembly is the more powerful of France’s two houses of parliament.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Therefore, if RN does win an absolute majority, it would not only weaken Macron’s presidency but also French diplomacy could be headed for an unprecedented period of turbulence.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We are going to win an absolute majority,” said Le Pen in an interview last week, and predicted that her protégé, 28-year-old Jordan Bardella would be prime minister.</p>

<p>The RN has sought to spend more on the French economy and reduce immigration. Additionally, Bardella has already indicated he would challenge Macron on global issues.</p>

<p>The far-right party’s win could also bring uncertainty to France’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine war given Le Pen’s history of pro-Russian sentiment. However, she said that they would back Kyiv against Russian invaders.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The RN also has historic ties to racism and&nbsp;antisemitism and is criticised for its hostility toward France’s Muslim community. The critics say that the far-right party’s courting of Jews is just a cover to deny accusations of racism while it is constantly stigmatising Muslims and foreigners.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Voters in France headed to the polls on Sunday (Jun 30) to cast their ballots in the first round of the high-stakes snap parliamentary elections which could usher in the country’s first far-right government since World War Two.

Voters in France headed to the polls on Sunday (Jun 30) to cast their ballots in the first round of the high-stakes snap parliamentary elections which could usher in the country’s first far-right government since World War Two. About the snap polls The polling stations across mainland France opened at 8:00 am (local time) and will close 12 hours later. The polls will be closed earlier in small towns and later in the bigger cities. Subsequently, projections which usually predict the result with a degree of accuracy, will be released. However, France’s electoral system can make it difficult to predict the distribution of seats that each party may secure in the 577-seat National Assembly, parliament’s lower house. Voters in France’s overseas territories which span across the world cast their ballots earlier in the weekend. The final results will not be known until the end of voting on July 7. High-stakes election Earlier this month, French President Emmanuel Macron stunned the nation when he called for a snap poll after his centrist alliance lost against Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN) in the European elections. Le Pen’s eurosceptic, anti-immigrant party has been operating on the sidelines for years but now has a good chance of winning. Three major political blocs are competing in this election – Le Pen’s RN, Macron’s centrist alliance, and the New Popular Front coalition that includes centre-left, greens and hard-left parties. Opinion polls show that RN has a chance of winning an absolute majority or at least 289 out of the 577 seats in the National Assembly. A report by AFP citing the final opinion poll ahead of the election gave RN between 35 per cent and 37 per cent of the vote, followed by 27.5-29 per cent for the recently formed New Popular Front alliance and 20-21 per cent for Macron’s party. France also witnessed massive demonstrations against both the far right and the French president after the announcement of the snap polls. A high turnout is expected in this election. The outcome of this election is important as despite Macron’s presidency which will continue until 2027, the National Assembly is the more powerful of France’s two houses of parliament. Also Read | Nigeria: At least 18 killed after string of suspected suicide bomb attacks Therefore, if RN does win an absolute majority, it would not only weaken Macron’s presidency but also French diplomacy could be headed for an unprecedented period of turbulence. “We are going to win an absolute majority,” said Le Pen in an interview last week, and predicted that her protégé, 28-year-old Jordan Bardella would be prime minister. The RN has sought to spend more on the French economy and reduce immigration. Additionally, Bardella has already indicated he would challenge Macron on global issues. The far-right party’s win could also bring uncertainty to France’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine war given Le Pen’s history of pro-Russian sentiment. However, she said that they would back Kyiv against Russian invaders. The RN also has historic ties to racism and antisemitism and is criticised for its hostility toward France’s Muslim community. The critics say that the far-right party’s courting of Jews is just a cover to deny accusations of racism while it is constantly stigmatising Muslims and foreigners. (With inputs from agencies)

France elections: Voters cast ballots in snap polls as far right seeks historic win

<p>French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday (June 23) vowed to "act until May 2027" no matter who wins the snap parliamentary elections scheduled for June 30 and July 7.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The incoming government, which will necessarily reflect your vote, will I hope resemble the various Republicans who will have shown the courage to oppose the extremes," Macron said in an open letter published in regional papers.</p>

<p>The French president took Europe's capitals by surprise when he dissolved Assemblée Nationale after the far right trounced his coalition in the European Parliament elections earlier this month.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/france-europes-least-favoured-stock-market-732819">France: Europe's 'least favoured' stock market?</a></strong></p>

<p>"The goal cannot be to just continue as things were," Macron said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I have heard that you want change."</p>

<p>"You can trust me to act until May 2027 as your president, protector at every moment of our republic, our values, respectful of pluralism and your choices, at your service and that of the nation," he added.</p>

<p>He also noted "this fracture between the people and those who lead the country, which we have not succeeded in reducing."</p>

<p>"The goal cannot be to just continue as things were. I have heard that you want change,” he added, noting in particular his administration’s “much stronger and firmer responses" on "insecurity and impunity".</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;France to hold snap elections between June 30 &amp; July 7</strong></p>

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<p>But Macron insisted that the coming vote, with a second round on July 7, was "neither a presidential election nor a vote of confidence in the president of the republic".</p>

<p>Instead, it was a chance to answer "a single question: who should govern France?"</p>

<p>Macron also acknowledged that his decision to call the snap polls had generated for some voters "anger that has turned against me. The goal cannot be to just continue as things were. I have heard that you want change," he added, noting, in particular, his administration's "much stronger and firmer responses" on "insecurity and impunity."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday (June 23) vowed to "act until May 2027" no matter who wins the snap parliamentary elections scheduled for June 30 and July 7.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday (June 23) vowed to "act until May 2027" no matter who wins the snap parliamentary elections scheduled for June 30 and July 7. "The incoming government, which will necessarily reflect your vote, will I hope resemble the various Republicans who will have shown the courage to oppose the extremes," Macron said in an open letter published in regional papers. The French president took Europe's capitals by surprise when he dissolved Assemblée Nationale after the far right trounced his coalition in the European Parliament elections earlier this month. Also read | France: Europe's 'least favoured' stock market? "The goal cannot be to just continue as things were," Macron said. "I have heard that you want change." "You can trust me to act until May 2027 as your president, protector at every moment of our republic, our values, respectful of pluralism and your choices, at your service and that of the nation," he added. He also noted "this fracture between the people and those who lead the country, which we have not succeeded in reducing." "The goal cannot be to just continue as things were. I have heard that you want change,” he added, noting in particular his administration’s “much stronger and firmer responses" on "insecurity and impunity". Also watch | France to hold snap elections between June 30 & July 7 × But Macron insisted that the coming vote, with a second round on July 7, was "neither a presidential election nor a vote of confidence in the president of the republic". Instead, it was a chance to answer "a single question: who should govern France?" Macron also acknowledged that his decision to call the snap polls had generated for some voters "anger that has turned against me. The goal cannot be to just continue as things were. I have heard that you want change," he added, noting, in particular, his administration's "much stronger and firmer responses" on "insecurity and impunity." (With inputs from agencies)

France snap elections: Macron vows to stay in charge 'until 2027' as far right eyes rout

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France elections: Voters cast ballots in snap polls as far right seeks historic win

France snap elections: Macron vows to stay in charge 'until 2027' as far right eyes rout