France National Rally to fail securing majority: Exit polls

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
7 Jul 2024 22:17

According to RTBF broadcaster, Marine Le Pen's party and its allies are projected to secure between 210 and 228 seats in France's 577-seat parliament.

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Voters line up to cast their vote during the second round of the legislative elections, Sunday, July 7, 2024 in Paris. (AP)

Early exit polls reported by Belgian media on Sunday indicate that the right-wing National Rally party is leading in France's parliamentary elections, but is expected to miss securing an absolute majority.

According to RTBF broadcaster, Marine Le Pen's party and its allies are projected to secure between 210 and 228 seats in France's 577-seat parliament.

In contrast, the New Popular Front, a coalition of left-wing forces, is expected to claim between 151 and 180 seats, while President Emmanuel Macron's centrist coalition is forecasted to win between 124 and 150 seats, as reported by the broadcaster.

French media earlier projected a voter turnout of over 67% for the second round of the parliamentary elections, marking a significant increase from just under 60% reported by the French Interior Ministry close to polling place closure.

France went to the polls on Sunday for the second round of a pivotal election. Parliamentary elections normally take place every five years, using a two-round voting system.

The elections determine the members of Parliament to form the total 577 constituencies of the National Assembly, the lower house of the French Parliament.

President Emmanuel Macron had called the snap elections three years early after his party suffered a severe defeat in June's European parliament vote, a gamble that appears to have misfired.

Marine Le Pen's National Rally (RN) emerged as the frontrunner in the June 30 first round, sparking concers among of a potential win in the second round.

Observers argue that a split parliament with a substantial eurosceptic and anti-immigration faction could diminish France's international standing and challenge Western unity at a time when the collective West is skewing more right-wing by the day.