France has begun voting in the last round of parliamentary elections as Emmanuel Macron’s centrists try to maintain their majority in the face of a challenge from a new left-wing alliance.
Sunday’s vote will mark the balance of power for Macron’s second term, defining his ability to make domestic policy as raising the retirement age and reviewing state benefits.
Macron, who was re-elected president in April against far-right Marine Le Pen, needs a majority for his centrist group in the lower house of parliament to have a free hand for his proposals to cut taxes and make changes in well-being. system.
Pollsters have been unable to predict whether Macron will hold on to the majority in what is likely to be a record low turnout.
All polls predict that Macron’s centrist alliance, Ensemble, will be the largest grouping in parliament, but could fall below the 289 seats needed for a majority. This week’s final polls suggested that between 255 and 305 seats would be needed in the 577-seat room.
A historic alliance of left-wing parties, led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s La France Insoumise party, or France Unbowed, with the Socialists and Greens, expects a large increase in seats to reduce the score of Macron’s centrists. . The coalition, known as Nupes, or New People’s Ecological and Social Union, is expected to become the largest opposition force. Polls show it could hold between 140 and 200 seats.
The contest has become increasingly bitter in the last week of the campaign with both sides accusing the other of causing chaos in France. A senior ally of Macron’s Christophe Castaner, who is struggling to keep his seat, accused Mélenchon of wanting a “Soviet revolution” and other ministers called the left a dangerous anarchist and populist who threatened France’s place in Europe. The left accused Macron of wanting to undo the welfare state of France.
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Le Pen’s far-right National Rally party had called on its voters to oppose Macron. The far right is expected to significantly increase its presence in parliament and win between 20 and 45 seats.
Several ministers are fighting for seats in parliament and will have to resign if they lose, including Environment Minister Amélie de Montchalin and European Minister Clément Beaune.
On the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, where the poll was held a day earlier, left-wing candidate Christian Baptiste defeated government Secretary of State for the Sea Justine Benin. According to cabinet rules, he will have to resign from the government.