France will hold the first round of early parliamentary elections on Sunday, which could produce the country’s first far-right government since the Nazi occupation during World War II.
The second round is on July 7 and the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain.
Three major political blocs are competing: the far-right Rassemblement National, the centrist alliance of President Emmanuel Macron and the New Popular Front coalition, which includes centre-left, green and hard-left forces. The French system is complex and disproportionate to the national support for any one party.
After the far-right won a landslide victory in the European Parliament elections earlier this month, Macron called for early elections in France, fearing the outcome would paralyze the legislature.
National Rally Chairman Jordan Bardella said that if he were to become prime minister, he would oppose sending French troops to Ukraine – a possibility that Macron has not ruled out. Bardella also said he would refuse French deliveries of long-range missiles and other weaponry that could strike targets in Russia itself.
Currently:
— France faces elections like no other. Here’s how it works and what comes next
– Macron weakened at home and abroad as early French election gives far-right momentum
— In France’s key parliamentary elections, a Jewish candidate faces and fights against hatred and division
– French far-right leader Bardella tries to reassure voters and EU partners on economic and foreign policy
— The French Prime Minister wants to step out of Macron’s shadow in the upcoming early elections
Here’s the latest:
Polls open in France for exceptionally high-stakes parliamentary elections
Voters across France have started casting their ballots in the first round of a snap parliamentary election that could see far-right forces take over the government – or fail to form a majority at all.
Polling stations in mainland France open at 8am (0600 GMT) on Sunday. The first poll forecasts are expected at 8pm (6pm GMT), when the last polling stations close, with early official results later on Sunday evening.
The outcome of the two rounds of elections could have implications for European financial markets, Western support for Ukraine and the way France’s nuclear arsenal and global military power are managed.
