Question marks about what the elections in France will bring

2024-07-06 17:45:47, Kosova & Bota CNA

Question marks about what the elections in France will bring

Hungarian Foreign Minister, Peter Szijjarto. Source, AFP

Parties across the political spectrum urged French people to vote en masse on Sunday regardless of the result, with polls predicting the far right would win a majority, but not an absolute one. In the first round, Marine Le Pen's National Union party won a third of the vote, paving the way for the far right to lead the country for the first time since World War II. A governing majority requires 289 seats in the National Assembly.

Workers in the French commune of Livry-Gargan, near Paris, got everything ready at the polling stations on Saturday, in preparation for the second round of parliamentary elections to be held on Sunday.

French President Emmanuel Macron could face an unpleasant surprise on Monday if the far-right wins the election. If this scenario happens, then it will have an impact on Mr. Macron's work in both the defense and foreign affairs fields.

Experts say that a victory for the "National Union" party in these elections, led by Marine Le Pen, could reduce the role of President Macron as an influential figure in European and world affairs and as one of the main supporters of Ukraine in the fight against Russia.

With many of his candidates already out of the running, Mr Macron's bloc of centrist parties cannot secure an absolute majority, giving him ample room to maneuver in his first term as president since 2017.

Analysts expect it to also lose the majority it held after winning the 2022 election, with 245 seats, making it the largest single group, though without a clear majority in the National Assembly.

Residents of Paris have different opinions about the second round of elections.

"I hope that the 'National Union' won't win the majority, but if they win the majority of seats in the National Assembly it will mean that it will be a new reality in France. However, I don't think that 40% of people are racist in France", says a resident of Paris.

"I'm worried about the gradual rise of the far right in the election results, so I'm worried about the institutional deadlock that this situation could cause," says a Paris resident.

"I don't see the problem with the extreme right. I love and adore France, if they don't want me here, goodbye! What else can I say", says a resident of Paris.

A recent poll shows the National Union winning with 205-230 seats in parliament. The left-wing New People's Front party came second with 145-175 seats and the bloc of center parties of President Emmanuel Macron third with 130-162 seats./ REL