Macron, Left, lead 1st round of parliamentary elections in France
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The two leading blocs gained 25.7% and 25.6% of the vote.
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Emmanuel Macron leaves the voting booth in the first round of French parliamentary elections, June 12, 2022 (AP)
In the first round of the French parliamentary elections, Macron's Renaissance ruling bloc, and the left-wing coalition Ensemble! garnered almost the same result, with 25.7% and 25.6% respectively.
In third place was Marine Le Pen's National Rally, with 18.7% of the vote while Republicans came at fourth place with 10.4%.
Eric Zemmour's Reconquete party garnered 4.2% of the vote, and the remaining parties could not pass the 4% mark.
Fears that the turnout may be low were indeed substantiated, as this round scored the lowest voter turnout in the history of France's Fifth Republic at 47.5%. The lowest turnout that happened prior to this date was recorded in 2017, at 48.3%.
Observers have noted that the French people have been losing interest in the parliamentary elections over the past 30 years at a gradual pace.
Four firms have predicted that Macron's alliance will win between 225 to 310 seats in the second vote on June 19. The leftist coalition, led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, was predicted to have 150-220 seats. To have a majority, Macron will need a minimum of 289 out of 577 seats.
The second round of the elections will take place on Sunday, June 19.
