The unexpected surge in voter turnout during the French parliamentary elections on Sunday was the highest in over 40 years, as reported by the BBC. With a 26 percent turnout by midday, this increase defied recent trends and was higher than the numbers seen during the 2022 elections. Mathieu Gallard from the Ipsos polling institute noted that this turnout was the highest since the 1981 parliamentary elections.
The rise in voter participation was particularly noticeable in Paris, where it reached 25.48 percent compared to just 12.8 percent in 2022. These elections hold significant importance as they could determine whether France ends up with a populist right-wing government, one of the two major powers in the European Union.
President Emmanuel Macron hopes to increase his party’s relative majority in the National Assembly while far-right leader Marine Le Pen aims to secure an absolute majority in parliament. Polling stations opened at 8 am for the eligible voters of France, which is approximately 49 million people. Macron called for these snap elections following Le Pen’s success in winning seats with her National Rally party in European Parliament elections.
The National Rally is leading pre-election polls ahead of a new left-wing alliance, New People’s Front and centrist Renaissance party led by Macron is currently third place. The first round of results will be determined after voting on July 7th and winners will enter into the assembly but final results are yet to be announced.
Macron’s continued presidency is secure until 2027, but potential power-sharing arrangements may result from election outcomes if Le Pen manages to secure a significant number of seats.
Fears of violence on election day have led many businesses to take measures such as securing their shops across the country with armed guards or barricades. With Marine Le Pen posing as a serious contender for upcoming presidential elections, there are significant changes happening politically in France that could impact its future.