French voters head to polls in historic snap election

WORLD  30 June 2024 - 10:20

On June 30, French voters cast their ballots in the first round of a snap parliamentary election that could usher in the country's first far-right government since World War Two, signaling a potential sea change at the heart of the European Union.

President Emmanuel Macron called the vote after his centrist alliance was defeated in European elections earlier this month by Marine Le Pen's National Rally (RN). The eurosceptic, anti-immigrant party, long considered a political outlier, is now closer to power than ever, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Polling stations opened at 0600 GMT, with the first exit polls and seat projections expected once voting concludes at 1800 GMT in major cities. However, the complexities of the electoral system make it difficult to predict the exact distribution of seats in the 577-seat National Assembly until the final round of voting on July 7.

Le Pen, in a recent newspaper interview, expressed confidence in her party's chances, predicting an absolute majority and the appointment of her protégé, 28-year-old Jordan Bardella, as prime minister. The RN advocates a high-spending economic program and stricter immigration controls.

An RN victory could lead to unprecedented diplomatic friction, with Macron, who plans to continue his presidency until 2027, and Bardella potentially clashing over who represents France internationally. France has experienced "cohabitation" before—when the president and government hail from different political camps—but never with such divergent worldviews at the helm.

Bardella has signaled his intent to challenge Macron on global issues, potentially transforming France from a staunch EU supporter to a more contentious member state. An RN government might demand rebates on France's EU contributions, dispute European Commission appointments, and oppose Macron's vision for increased EU unity and defense assertiveness.

A definitive RN win would also raise questions about France's stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Although the party has recently pledged support for Ukraine, Le Pen's history of pro-Russian sentiment and the party's refusal to supply long-range missiles to Ukraine could complicate France's foreign policy.

The outcome of this election could significantly reshape France's political landscape and its role within the EU, with global implications.

Caliber.Az