France election: Macron party set for big parliamentary win

Source: BBC News:

June 11, 2017 at 15:27

The centrist party of French President Emmanuel Macron looks on course to win a landslide victory following the first round of parliamentary elections.

As polls closed, projections showed La Republique en Marche (Republic on the Move) set to win more than 400 seats in the 577-seat National Assembly.

Mr Macron's party was established just over a year ago and many candidates have little or no political experience.

The second round of the vote is held next Sunday.

Forecasts by two polling organisations gave LREM well over 30% of first round votes.

But turnout was low, around 49%, which analysts said reflected a sense of resignation among Mr Macron's opponents.

The BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris says everything suggests Mr Macron has won another crushing victory with the only significant opposition coming from the centre-right Republicans.

The Socialists, who were most recently in power, are facing a historic wipe-out and the far-right National Front (FN) has also underperformed, he says.

Pollsters forecast the Republicans would win 20.9%; the FN 13.1%; and the Socialists with a grouping of left-wing parties 9%.

Mr Macron, 39, needs a majority to push through the changes that he promised in his campaign.

Votes counted in Le Touquet, northern France, 11 June 2017 — EPA
Turnout was low, despite claims that President Macron had re-energised the voting public

He has already left an impression around the world, in particular for standing up to US leader Donald Trump on issues like climate change.

After the projections were announced, a government spokesman said voters had shown they wanted to move fast on major reforms.

FN deputy chairman Florian Philippot said the party was "disappointed" by the projections, adding: "We have paid the price, I think, for a low turnout."

The two established parties - the Republicans and the Socialists - both failed to reach the presidential run-off last month for the first time in France's post-war history.

The Socialists risk losing not only their current majority but also most of their seats.

Those standing for LREM come from all walks of life and include students, retired citizens and a bullfighter.

Few MPs are expected to be elected in the first round of voting.

Only candidates who win more than 50% of the vote will take their seats, otherwise all candidates who secure at least 12.5% of registered voters will go into the second round to determine the winner.

The election took place amid heightened security after a series of devastating terror attacks in recent years.