©(Emmanuel Dunand / AFP)
French voters began casting their ballots on Sunday for the second round of the country's legislative elections, a historic vote in which the National Rally (RN) could emerge victorious, although there is still considerable uncertainty as to whether it will be able to secure an absolute majority in the parliament and form a government.
Voters can go to the polls until 6:00 p.m. or 8:00 p.m. in major cities, at which time the first results will be known.
Voter turnout is expected to be as high as in the first round, when it reached 66.7%, the highest level since the previous dissolution in 1997.
Last Sunday, the French put the RN - and its allies - well ahead (33%) of the left-wing alliance New Popular Front (NFP, 28%), and the presidential camp Ensemble (20%).
On a national scale, legislative elections have rarely unleashed such passions, arousing the anxiety of some and the hope of those who, by voting for Marine Le Pen's party, want to give her political family the chance to govern.
But the campaign between the two rounds was marked by the withdrawal of a large number of candidates from the Macronist camp and the NFP, in the name of a "republican front" invigorated by the prospect of 28-year-old RN president Jordan Bardella being appointed to Matignon.
A total of 130 NFP candidates and 80 Ensemble candidates withdrew, reducing the number of triangular contests from 306 to 89.
As a result of these withdrawals, the prospect of an absolute majority for the RN seems to be receding.
A few hours before the end of the election campaign at midnight on Friday, and the start of a reserve period, several polls seemed to show a tightening between the three blocs (RN/NFP/Ensemble).
[readmore url = "https://thisisbeirut.com.lb/world/269600"]
Marine Le Pen, for her part, considers the RN's chances "of having an absolute majority in the Assembly" to be "serious", noting that seat projections "are not an exact science".
The end of the campaign, in a climate of great tension, was marked by attacks and violence against candidates and activists.
30,000 police officers will be mobilized on Sunday evening, including 5,000 in Paris.
Stéphanie Lerouge, with AFP
Voters can go to the polls until 6:00 p.m. or 8:00 p.m. in major cities, at which time the first results will be known.
Voter turnout is expected to be as high as in the first round, when it reached 66.7%, the highest level since the previous dissolution in 1997.
Last Sunday, the French put the RN - and its allies - well ahead (33%) of the left-wing alliance New Popular Front (NFP, 28%), and the presidential camp Ensemble (20%).
On a national scale, legislative elections have rarely unleashed such passions, arousing the anxiety of some and the hope of those who, by voting for Marine Le Pen's party, want to give her political family the chance to govern.
Numerous withdrawals
But the campaign between the two rounds was marked by the withdrawal of a large number of candidates from the Macronist camp and the NFP, in the name of a "republican front" invigorated by the prospect of 28-year-old RN president Jordan Bardella being appointed to Matignon.
A total of 130 NFP candidates and 80 Ensemble candidates withdrew, reducing the number of triangular contests from 306 to 89.
As a result of these withdrawals, the prospect of an absolute majority for the RN seems to be receding.
A few hours before the end of the election campaign at midnight on Friday, and the start of a reserve period, several polls seemed to show a tightening between the three blocs (RN/NFP/Ensemble).
[readmore url = "https://thisisbeirut.com.lb/world/269600"]
Marine Le Pen, for her part, considers the RN's chances "of having an absolute majority in the Assembly" to be "serious", noting that seat projections "are not an exact science".
The end of the campaign, in a climate of great tension, was marked by attacks and violence against candidates and activists.
30,000 police officers will be mobilized on Sunday evening, including 5,000 in Paris.
Stéphanie Lerouge, with AFP
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