Preliminary estimates of the results of the first round of the French parliamentary elections that took place today, Sunday, showed that the alliance of President Emmanuel Macron's party made progress, but without obtaining an absolute majority of parliament seats, while the far-right movement led by Marine Le Pen ranked third.
The French news agency reported that the Ifop Vedusial Foundation estimated that Macron's party and its allies would win between 275 and 310 seats, while Ipsos expected it to win between 255 and 295 seats, noting that the absolute majority in the French parliament is 289 out of a total of 289 seats. 577.
In terms of the number of votes, estimates showed a close result between President Macron's centrist camp, who was re-elected last April, and the Left Alliance led by veteran politician Jean-Luc Melenchon.
Close results
According to the Ifop Vedusial poll, Macron's alliance received 25% of the vote, while the leftist coalition won 25.7%, while the far-right movement led by Le Pen received 19.3%.
President Macron with the mayor of a French city after casting his vote in the first round of the parliamentary elections (Reuters)
Voter turnout in mainland France (excluding overseas territories) was 39.4% at 3:00 GMT, the lowest turnout in at least 20 years in the first round of parliamentary elections, according to Interior Ministry data.
The percentage was in the range of 40.8% in the first round of the last legislative elections in France, and 48 million voters were called to vote in today's elections.
two-cycle system
With the two-round system being implemented in 577 constituencies across the country, voting in the first round is not a good indicator of who will ultimately win a majority on June 19 when the second round takes place.
Informed sources within the government expect a weak performance in the first round of Macron's alliance, and record numbers of voters abstaining from voting, while the Melenchon alliance hopes to benefit from popular anger over the high cost of living, and deprive Macron's alliance of obtaining a majority in Parliament.
Macron's ability to pass his reform agenda is threatened if he does not obtain an absolute majority in Parliament, and one of the most prominent features of this agenda is the reform of the pension system.
In return, his left-wing opponents are pushing to lower the retirement age and launch a massive spending campaign.
"We are expecting a difficult first round ... but we are counting on the second round to show that the Melenchon program is fictional," a government source told Reuters.
About 14 ministers from Macron's government are competing in the legislative vote, and could lose their jobs in the government if they fail to win seats in parliament. President Macron.