French citizens are heading to the polls on Sunday for the second round of the legislative elections, which will determine the maneuvering margin for re-elected President Emmanuel Macron for the next five years against a united and confrontational left. Approximately 48 million voters have been called to vote amid a heatwave affecting France, but a high abstention rate is expected, similar to the first round, according to opinion polls.
Polling stations will open at 6:00 AM GMT and close at 4:00 PM GMT, with the deadline extended to 6:00 PM GMT in major cities, with initial estimates starting to emerge in succession. The competition in this election is fierce, but the precise distribution of seats in the National Assembly and therefore whether Macron will obtain an absolute majority will not be clear until later in the evening.
Macron stated that the war in Ukraine affects the daily lives of the French people, emphasizing the need for a "truly European France that can speak clearly and openly." At the same time, he warned about the "extremists" who, if they win, would cause "chaos" in France, accusing them of wanting to take the country out of Europe. If he secures a relative majority in the second round, Macron will have to seek support from other political groups.
