Macron will have to secure at least 289 of the 577 seats in order to have a majority to pass the law during his second five-year term.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance is expected to retain its parliamentary majority after the first round of voting, according to forecasts on Sunday.
Estimates based on partial election results show at the national level that Macron’s party and its allies received about 25-26 per cent of the vote. They were ties to a new left-wing coalition of hardliners, socialists and Green Party supporters.
Still, Macron’s candidates are expected to win in more constituencies than their left-wing rivals, giving the president a majority.
Macron will have to secure at least 289 of the 577 seats in order to have a majority to pass the law during his second five-year term.
Insiders in the government expected a relatively poor performance in the first round for the Macron Coalition Ensemble, with a record number of abstentions.
“I voted for her hope, so not for our current president,” said Michel Giboz, 71.
Ivan Warren, who voted for Macron in the presidential election, wants to see him win a majority.
“It is important to me that we have a strong government that allows us to represent France in the most effective way possible,” said the 56-year-old computer scientist.
The elections for the 577 seats in the lower house of the National Assembly are a two-round process. More than 6,000 candidates aged 18 to 92 are vying to win seats in the National Assembly in the first round of elections. Those who garner the most votes will qualify for the decisive second round on June 19th.
Following Macron’s re-election in May, his centrist coalition is seeking an absolute majority that would allow it to deliver on its campaign promises, which include tax cuts and raising the retirement age from 62 to 65.
“cohabitation”
The main opposition is a newly formed coalition of leftists, greens and communists, led by the stubborn figure Jean-Luc Melanchon.
Melenchon called on voters to give a majority to his coalition, thus forcing Macron to nominate him as prime minister, which would lead to a situation called coexistence.
The platform of the left includes a significant increase in the minimum wage, lowering the retirement age to 60 and fixing energy prices.
Although Melenchon’s coalition could win more than 200 seats, current forecasts give the left little chance of winning a majority. Macron and his allies are expected to win between 260 and 320 seats, according to the latest polls.
The French far right, led by Marin Le Pen, is expected to win at least 15 seats, which will allow it to form a parliamentary group and gain more power in the assembly.
Parliamentary elections have traditionally been a tough race for far-right candidates, as rivals tend to withdraw in the second round to improve another candidate’s chances.
The Le Pen National Rally hopes to do better than five years ago, when it won eight seats.
The results may also be affected by the expected record low turnout. Sociologists say less than half of France’s 48.7 million voters are expected to vote.
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