French Head to Polls for Deciding Runoff Election

A man enters a polling booth to vote in the second round of France's legislative election at a polling station in Le Touquet, northern France, on July 7, 2024. (Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images)

France votes Sunday in pivotal runoff elections that could hand a historic victory to Marine Le Pen’s National Rally or produce a hung parliament and years of political deadlock. French President Emmanuel Macron dissolved parliament and called for elections after his party lost in the European elections on June 9.

The second-round voting began Saturday in France’s overseas territories from the South Pacific to the Caribbean, Indian Ocean, and North Atlantic. The elections wrap up Sunday at 8 p.m. in mainland France. Initial polling projections are expected Sunday night, with early official results expected late Sunday and early Monday.

Here’s the latest:

Macron Votes

Mr. Macron voted in the legislative elections on Sunday.

Sunday’s vote determines which party controls the National Assembly and who will be prime minister. If no party wins an absolute majority, forming a government usually takes extensive negotiations with other parties.

Early Turnout Reported

As of noon local time, turnout was at 26.63 percent, according to France’s interior ministry. That’s slightly higher than the 25.90 percent reported at the same time during the first round of voting last Sunday.

Prime Minister Casts Ballot in Paris Suburb

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal cast his ballot in the Paris suburb of Vanves Sunday morning.

Ms. Le Pen is not voting after winning her district in northern France outright last week.

Across France, 76 other candidates secured seats in the first round, including 39 from Ms. Le Pen’s National Rally and 32 from the leftist New Popular Front alliance. Two candidates from Mr. Macron’s party also won their seats in the first round.

Polls Open in Mainland France

Voting opened Sunday in mainland France for the second round of high-stakes legislative elections that already saw the largest gains ever for the National Rally on June 30.

If granted an absolute majority, the National Rally will control the National Assembly and 28-year-old leader Jordan Bardella will become prime minister.

If support is further eroded for Mr. Macron’s weak majority coalition, he will be forced to share power with parties opposed to most of his pro-European Union policies.

The electoral campaign has been marred with accusations of racism and anti-Semitism, and more than 50 candidates reported being physically attacked. The government is deploying 30,000 police on voting day.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.