(CTN News) – France voters headed to the polls on Sunday for the first round of a snap parliamentary election that could potentially install the country’s first far-right government since World War II, a seismic shift at the heart of the European Union.
President Emmanuel Macron stunned the nation by calling the election after his centrist alliance suffered a crushing defeat in the European elections earlier this month at the hands of Marine Le Pen’s eurosceptic, anti-immigrant National Rally (RN) party.
The RN, once considered a pariah, now stands closer to power than ever before.
Polls opened at 6 a.m. GMT and closed at 4 p.m. GMT in small towns and cities, and at 6 p.m. GMT in larger cities, where the first exit polls and seat projections for the decisive second round a week later were expected.
Le Pen, who has led a “de-demonization” strategy to broaden the RN’s base and temper its radical image, boldly predicted victory, saying “We are going to win an absolute majority” and that her protégé, 28-year-old Jordan Bardella, would become prime minister.If the RN
secures an outright majority, it would set the stage for an unprecedented period of turbulence in French diplomacy, with Macron – who has vowed to serve out his term until 2027 – and Bardella vying for the right to speak for France.
The RN’s high-spending economic program and plans to reduce immigration could put it at odds with the EU.
Tight Race Ahead as French Voters Head to the Polls
Opinion polls suggest the RN holds a comfortable lead of 33-36% of the popular vote, with a hastily assembled left-wing coalition, the New Popular Front, in second place on 28-31% and Macron’s centrist alliance trailing in third on 20-23%.
However, translating these numbers into seats in the 577-seat National Assembly is challenging due to the complex electoral system.
Candidates can be elected in the first round if they win an absolute majority in their constituency, but this is rare. Most constituencies will require a second round, with the top scorer winning.
The snap election marks a crucial moment in French political history, with the far-right’s surge sparking heightened interest among French expatriates in Montreal, who represent over a quarter of registered voters in North America.
The French community in Montreal, the largest outside France, is expected to see a doubled turnout compared to the 2022 election.
As France stands on the precipice of a potential political earthquake, the world watches with bated breath to see if the far-right’s long march to power will culminate in a historic victory.
