France votes in the second round of legislative polls called by Macron after his centrist alliance's defeat in EU elections.

Paris

French President Emmanuel Macron calls a snap election following a bruising loss to the far-right in a European Parliament ballot.

France snap election

France is witnessing a significant voter turnout as citizens cast their ballots in the second round of legislative elections. The election follows a tense campaign period with tens of thousands of police officers on guard. This comes after the far-right National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen, emerged as the frontrunner with 33.2% of votes in the first round.

The National Rally's president and prime ministerial candidate, Jordan Bordela, aims for an absolute majority in parliament. To counter this, the left and centre have formed a Republican Front, with over 200 candidates withdrawing to boost the chances of defeating National Rally contenders. President Emmanuel Macron, whose centrist bloc finished third in the first round, called for this snap election four weeks ago.

Early voter turnout figures indicated participation of over 26%, the highest in forty years. This reflects the high stakes and keen voter engagement observed at polling stations across Paris and other parts of France. Particular attention has been given to regions with large migrant populations like Marseille, where the campaign has been particularly divisive.

In Marseille, voter turnout is significant, with participation figures updated hourly showing a robust 51% turnout rate. The snap nature of the election has been a topic of concern among voters, with some expressing doubts about the preparedness of party alliances formed to counter the far-right. The strategy of forming such alliances has been used in previous elections but faces uncertain efficacy in the current political climate.



Voters turn out in numbers as France casts ballots in key run-off

France is holding its breath with millions of photos flocking to the ballot box in what is seen as a pivotal moment for the country. The second round of the snap election is taking place after a tense campaign with tens of thousands of police on guard. I'm really, really concerned because I have a child and I'm very worried about what's happening and what will come for the next future. I vote for the future of our kids, for our future, for our pension, for our religion, for everything. In the first round, the far-right National Rally with its main force Marine Le Pen got the most votes with 33.2%. The party's president and prime ministerial candidate, 28-year-old Jordan Bordela, now aims for an absolute majority in parliament of at least 289 seats. To prevent this, the left and centre have formed a so-called Republican Front. As a result, more than 200 candidates have withdrawn from the race to give an opponent a better chance to beat the National Rally, a strategy that has worked in the past. The man who put the country in this situation has stayed away from the spotlight since his centrist bloc came in third in the first round. President Emmanuel Macron called this election only four weeks ago after the far-right made huge gains in European elections. Both Le Pen and Bordela are not voting today because their constituencies were decided in the first round. Early results in this election are expected later on Sunday. Busy voting stations in France, which will likely see a different political landscape by the end of the day. This election is seen as a huge gamble by President Macron, and whether it pays off or not, it is already causing a great division within the country. Stab fast from Algeciras, Paris. Shortly we're going to hear from Edith Semguen-Phil who's in Marseille in southern France. First, let's go to the French capital where Stab Fast is joining us from a polling station there. Stab, there's an awful lot at stake here for both sides and the turnout seems to be reflecting that. Absolutely, we've seen very keen voters here at this polling station at a school in Paris. Since early this morning, 8am, people have been coming in, people from all walks of life. It's pretty impressive to see how keen they are to vote in this, what they call a very crucial election. And we got also some figures around noon. The turnout was more than 26%, which is the highest in 40 years around that time. And we've also seen in the first round more than 66% came to vote. So we might even see higher figures today, which shows how much is at stake. And as you said, the far right national rally came on top in the first round. So now we see how the left and the centre have come together in what they call this Republican front to counter that. This is the gamble that President Macron has taken four weeks ago when he called for this snap election. And now we have to see if this gamble is actually paying off today. Stab, thank you very much indeed. Stab Fast, live for us in Paris. We're going to go to Edith Semguen-Phil who's live in Marseille. Campaigning has been really intense in the south of France, particularly, of course, in parts where there are large migrant populations. How is that being reflected in the voting? Yes, in fact, this campaign, which was the shortest in history of the Fifth Republic for parliamentary elections, has also been really divisive, especially in places like Marseille, where, you know, you have these migrant populations, because Marseille has welcomed foreigners for centuries, in fact. In the early 19th century, Italians, Armenians and Spaniards. And then since World War II, it's been mostly sub-Saharan Africans and North Africans. And we spoke to people here and they are concerned about the future. They say that this time has been very difficult for them. They're talking about the conversations, the tough conversations they're having with neighbours, with friends. These issues are dividing families. They're also dividing couples. One doctor in a village put a letter in his waiting room to his patients, addressing them, telling them that he was going to leave if the village voted a certain way. So this is the type of thing that is happening across France, but particularly here in Marseille, where it's split between two camps. In fact, you have seven constituencies, and in two of them, you have the left that managed to get those seats outright in the first round. So strong showing there, especially in the poorer neighbourhoods of Marseille, in fact. But then in five other constituencies, it's the far right that's leading. And now you have candidates from the presidential camp that have withdrawn in favour of the left, hoping that will block the far right from getting those seats. But one key element for this strategy to work will be voter turnout. So let's take a look now at this board. It's being updated every hour by polling officers here. You're seeing 51% participation at this hour. Polling officers telling us that this is slightly less than the first round, but still a very strong showing. Just very briefly, this was a snap election, as we've been saying. Have people been telling you if they feel that they have had enough time to be able to absorb what is going on and the changes that could be happening to politics in France? And of course, the issues at stake. Well, interestingly, I spoke to a voter earlier and asked him that question. He told me he believed that the parties themselves were not prepared. He didn't understand much of their programs or whether those alliances could actually hold. He was saying that most of them were alliances of convenience just in order to block the far right. And in fact, the strategy has been happening in recent elections in France. It's not the first time. Back in 2022 in the presidential elections again and the second round, the parties were hoping that they could create that momentum again of having voters blocking the far right. And it's been happening again and again, and it's worked so far. However, with time, it has worked less and less. Some voters were simply disabused. After the first round, when their candidates left the race, they decided to abstain. The question is, what will happen today? Will they show up? Will they want to block the far right one more time by voting for a candidate that they didn't choose? Ibsen, thank you very much. Indeed, Ibsen Genfed talking to us from Marseille.

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