France election: Turnout high as 2nd round voting nears end

Published 14 hours agoPublished 14 hours agolast updated 39 minutes agolast updated 39 minutes ago

The far-right National Rally made major gains in the first round, but centrist and leftist parties have united to try to stop them. Turnout is much higher than in previous years, with just a short period left to vote.

What you need to know

Marine Le Pen's National Rally was the strongest party in the first round of parliamentary elections on June 30

Le Pen is confident her RN could win an absolute majority in parliament

As of 5 p.m. local time, registered voter turnout rate was 59.7%, according to France's Interior Ministry

In the first round, 76 lawmakers, mostly from the far right and left, were elected outright

That means 501 seats in France's lower house of parliament are up for grabs in the second round

President Emmanuel Macron called the snap elections three years ahead of time

39 minutes ago39 minutes ago

What's the magic number to win French parliamentary elections?

Time for a quick arithmetic recap as the close of voting and preliminary results appoach.

Today's vote will decide all 577 seats in France's influential lower house, the Assemble Nationale.

That meansMarine Le Pen's RN needs a total of at least 289 to have an absolute majority.

When voting closes at 8 p..m., the first projections based on exit polls will swiftly follow from national broadcasters and the polling companies they commission. The official tally is expected Monday morning.

Every seat is decided on a majoritarian basis in the second round; in other words, the candidate with the most votes wins outright.

https://www.dw.com/en/france-election-turnout-high-as-2nd-round-voting-nears-end/live-69585924

It 7:41 pm in Paris right now