French residents in America and in some of the national overseas territories vote this Saturday in the first round of the legislative elections, which will be held on Sunday in the metropolitan area. French citizens living abroad who were unable to vote electronically until Thursday will be able to do so in person on Saturday.
Polling stations opened in Saint Pierre and Miquelon, a French archipelago located in the North Atlantic near Canada, in the French West Indies, French Guiana and French Polynesia. Pollsters and politicians expect a much greater participation than in the 2022 legislative elections, in which 47.51% of voters participated.
The electronic vote available to French residents abroad reached a record number of 410,000 votes, compared to 250,000 in 2022. This is partly due to the potentially historic consequences of these elections, which for the first time since 1997 will not coincide with the elections presidential.
French President Emmanuel Macron surprised by bringing forward the legislative electionsscheduled for 2027, after the victory of the far right in the European elections of June 9. The centrist president, whose term ends that same year, risks sharing power with a government of a different political color.
Looking ahead to the first round, a extensive Ipsos pollpublished Thursday, projects a victory of the far-right National Rally party (RN) and its allies with 36% of votes, followed by the left-wing coalition New Popular Front (NFP, 29%) and the ruling party (19.5%). The result after the second round – which will be held between July 6 and 7, depending on the territories – is announced, however. uncertain due to the electoral system itself: The 577 deputies are elected in single-member constituencies, with a two-round majority system.
In the absence of definitive answers, the First results expected at 6 p.m. Sunday should offer a clearer picture.
* Information prepared by AFP
