Paris, July 7 (EFE).– The French voted in crucial runoff elections on Sunday, which could shift power to Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN) amid concerns of a potential political deadlock due to a possible hung parliament.
By noon, voter turnout had reached nearly 27%, the highest in several decades, according to the interior ministry. Last Sunday, turnout was nearly 26% at the same time, while in the 2017 second round it was about 19%.
The high turnout indicates significant interest among the French in this election, in which, for the first time, the far-right RN could come in first place and potentially take power.
This second round will elect 501 lawmakers in individual contests, after 76 candidates were already elected in the first round on Sunday by achieving at least 50% of the votes.
The far-right and its allies secured a comfortable victory in the first round, with 33.3% of the votes and 39 lawmakers already elected, compared to 28.2% for the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) (31 seats) and the centrist-right Macronist bloc (20% and two parliamentarians).
During the week, more than 200 Macronist and left-wing candidates withdrew from the second round to give a better-placed contender a higher chance of winning against a far-right rival.
This reduced the number of constituencies to be decided among three candidates from 306 to 89, along with two others with four candidates.
There will be 409 traditional duels between two candidates, and in one constituency, there is only one candidate after their rival withdrew.
Seat projections for the second round suggest the far-right will achieve its best historical result, though far from the absolute majority that seemed slightly possible in the first round.
Projections indicate that the RN could win between 170 and 230 seats, far from the 289 needed for an absolute majority.
The left is projected to have between 155 and 192 seats, while the Macronist bloc is expected to get 118-150 seats. The conservative Republicans (LR) are projected to win between 35 and 67 seats.
New projections based on partial results and exit polls will be released immediately after the polls close in large cities.
Turnout in the first round was very high, at 66.71%. Two years ago, it was only 48.70% in the first round and 42.64% in the second.
The high motivation of the electorate and calls for mobilization by political parties could make today’s turnout exceed 60%, according to polls.
The likely lack of an absolute majority and the complicated composition of the National Assembly could make governing France difficult, especially in a country with no tradition of coalitions. EFE
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