France election is underway: Macron's absolute majority is wobbling
Created: 06/12/2022Updated: 06/12/2022 08:26
By: Max Schaefer
Before the French election, Emmanuel Macron is under pressure.
The left-wing alliance NUPES wants to take over the majority in the parliamentary elections.
The news ticker.
France election live:
The people of France will decide on a new parliament on June 12th and 19th, 2022.
Majority in danger:
The parliamentary elections in France will decide whether Emmanuel Macron will continue to have a majority in the National Assembly.
Claims from the left:
Jean-Luc Mélenchon wants to become prime minister with the help of the left-wing alliance NUPES.
Update from Sunday, June 12, 8:13 a.m .:
The parliamentary elections in France started at 8 a.m. today.
The 577 deputies of the French National Assembly are to be elected.
The polling stations are open until 6 p.m., in some big cities even until 8 p.m.
A historically low voter turnout is expected.
France election live: Melonchon makes claims, Macron has to tremble
+++ 7.50 p.m .:
French people are called for parliamentary elections on Sunday (June 12).
According to surveys, the previous government majority is ahead in the distribution of seats, but could lose the absolute majority.
The left-green voter alliance NUPES, led by left-wing populist Jean-Luc Mélenchon, is likely to form the strongest opposition faction.
It also includes the Socialists, the Greens and the Communists.
Mélenchon has put himself forward as prime minister.
The right-wing populist party RN could form its own parliamentary group for the first time with at least 15 MPs.
Their predecessor party FN was last able to do this in 1986.
The turnout is historically low.
In the 2017 general election, less than half of those entitled to vote cast their votes for the first time.
France's re-elected President Emmanuel Macron © IMAGO/Nicolas Economou
France election: Parliamentary elections in overseas territories already started
Update from Saturday, June 11, 1:47 p.m .:
The parliamentary elections in France have officially started – albeit initially only in three polling stations.
On the small French archipelago of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon off the east coast of Canada, the first polling stations opened on Saturday afternoon (8 a.m. local time), as a spokeswoman for the town hall in Saint-Pierre confirmed to the German Press Agency (dpa).
Because of the time difference, some overseas territories will already be voting on the parliamentary elections in France on Saturday.
The majority of French people can vote on Sunday (June 12).
The second round of the parliamentary elections will then take place on Sunday (June 19).
poll | Parliamentary elections in France |
|---|---|
date | June 12 and 19, 2022 |
voting system | majority voting |
number of constituencies | 577 |
necessary majority | 289 seats |
France election: A high level of abstention is expected
Update from Saturday, June 11, 9:16 a.m .:
A high level of abstention is expected in the parliamentary elections in France.
According to the French daily Le Figaro, this could be to the advantage of President Macron.
The abstention is a sign of anger and results from campaign promises not being kept.
"With the introduction of the five-year period and the holding of the parliamentary elections after the presidential elections, they have lost their uniqueness and even their interest."
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Especially in the working class and among young voters, abstention is “strong”.
“It is an advantage for Emmanuel Macron.
Even if his victory would be more tactical than political,” explains Le Figaro.
Voter turnout in the French parliamentary elections in 2017 was at a historically low level of 48.7 percent in the first round and 42.6 percent in the second round.
France election: Macron's government alliance fears for an absolute majority
Update from Friday, June 10, 7:32 p.m .:
Shortly before the parliamentary elections in France, the government alliance has to fear for its absolute majority.
According to a survey published on Friday, the party of current President Emmanuel Macron and his allies are roughly on a par with the left-wing electoral alliance NUPES of left-wing populist Jean-Luc Mélenchon with around 27 percent.
The government alliance would therefore only have 280 to 320 seats.
289 seats are needed for an absolute majority.
Before the first round of the parliamentary elections on Sunday (June 12), the election campaign ends on Friday at midnight.
The French were only moderately interested in this.
A historically low voter turnout is expected.
According to surveys, only 46 percent of those entitled to vote could cast their votes in the parliamentary elections.
The first results will be published on election Sunday from 8 p.m.
A run-off election will be held on June 19 in all constituencies in which none of the candidates has achieved an absolute majority.
France election: Macron under pressure ahead of parliamentary elections
First report from Wednesday, June 8th:
Paris – Shortly after the presidential election in France in 2022, the French can vote again: The next French election on June 12th and 19th is about the composition of the French parliament, more precisely the National Assembly .
The election is crucial for President Emmanuel Macron, who was confirmed in office at the end of April: This will clarify whether the liberal politician can push through his reform plans – or whether he is confronted with an oppositional parliamentary majority.
France election: Macron party under pressure ahead of parliamentary elections
If Macron's party, which is to be called "Renaissance" in future and will compete in the "Ensemble!" but also the government.
According to the constitution, this determines the politics of France.
Usually, the party of the recently elected President also wins the general election in France.
However, the strong performance of Marine Le Pen in the presidential election, the criticism of Macron, who is called the “president of the rich” among other things, and polls raise doubts among observers as to whether this will also be the case in 2022.
Parliamentary elections in France: the left forms the NUPES alliance and wants to make Mélenchon prime minister
In the French election, however, Macron can not only pose a threat to the Rassemblement National, but above all to the left of France.
United by Jean-Luc Mélenchon as the People's Ecological and Social Union (NUPES), they rank alongside Macron's supporters.
According to a survey by the opinion research institute Ifop, the left-wing alliance leads with 26 percent ahead of "Ensemble!" with 25 percent.
NUPES is also getting closer and closer to Macron's allies when it comes to constituency forecasts, so that their parliamentary majority is becoming increasingly uncertain.
party/alliance | Voting Intent | Projected Seats |
|---|---|
NUPES | 26% | 195-230 |
Ensemble! | 25% | 250-290 |
Rally National | 21% | 20-45 |
Republicains | 11% | 40-55 |
Reconquete | 5% | 0-2 |
Other | 12% | 10-20 |
Source: Ifop as of June 7th |
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It is not without reason that Macron approaches the Social Democrats and the Greens before the French elections.
During the election campaign, he made concessions in terms of content and personnel.
The Macron appointed Elisabeth Borne as prime minister.
She is a left-wing politician who is socially committed, it was said at the time of the appointment from the Élysée Palace.
Borne was also Minister for the Environment.
However, it is questionable whether France's Greens will be convinced of this.
Especially since the climate law passed during her tenure fell short of expectations.
Parliamentary elections in France: Macron party threatens to lose majority
Emmanuel Macron's alliance will therefore lose in the 2022 general election in France compared to 2017, when Macron's La République en Marche party alone had an absolute majority in the National Assembly with 308 MPs.
As an alliance, the left-wing parties are gaining seats according to the latest polls.
Ultimately, the results of the first round of France's elections on Sunday (June 12) remain to be seen when forecasts and projections are released.
However, the decision on future majorities will not be made until June 19 due to majority rules.
(ms/jo with dpa)