Paris
The first round of France’s snap legislative elections began on Sunday in Metropolitan France. Voters will elect 577 members of the National Assembly from over 4,000 candidates. Polling booths are open for 49.5 million registered voters from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time (0600 GMT to 1600 GMT). In major cities like Paris, Lyon, and Marseille, booths will close at 8 p.m. local time (1800 GMT).
Higher voter turnout has been observed compared to the 2022 legislative elections and the recent European Parliament elections. Over 2.6 million eligible voters have chosen to vote by proxy, four times more than in 2022, according to the French Interior Ministry.
Each deputy is elected by direct universal suffrage for five years in a constituency. Metropolitan France has 539 constituencies, overseas territories have 27, and 11 deputies represent French nationals living abroad. If a candidate wins an absolute majority in the first round more than 50 percent of the vote with a turnout rate of at least 25 percent they are elected without a second round. If no candidate achieves this, those with at least 12.5 percent of registered voters’ support will advance to the second round on July 7.
President Emmanuel Macron dissolved the National Assembly and called for new elections after his party coalition suffered a defeat in the European Parliament elections. Provisional results are expected from 8 p.m. local time (1800 GMT).
