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| What to Know About France’s Parliamentary Elections | What to Know About France’s Parliamentary Elections |
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| Follow our live news updates of France’s parliamentary elections. | |
| PARIS — Weeks after re-electing President Emmanuel Macron, voters in France return to the polls on Sunday to choose their parliamentary representatives in the second round of elections that will determine whether Mr. Macron’s bills sail or stumble through the legislature. | PARIS — Weeks after re-electing President Emmanuel Macron, voters in France return to the polls on Sunday to choose their parliamentary representatives in the second round of elections that will determine whether Mr. Macron’s bills sail or stumble through the legislature. |
| After the first round, which was held last week, Mr. Macron’s party and its allies appeared on track to secure a majority — if not an absolute one — in the 577-seat National Assembly, France’s lower and more powerful house of Parliament, despite a strong challenge from a reinvigorated left-wing alliance. | After the first round, which was held last week, Mr. Macron’s party and its allies appeared on track to secure a majority — if not an absolute one — in the 577-seat National Assembly, France’s lower and more powerful house of Parliament, despite a strong challenge from a reinvigorated left-wing alliance. |
| The pro-Macron centrist alliance and the left-wing coalition finished neck-and-neck nationwide in the first round of voting, with roughly a quarter of the vote each, leading to fierce competition among candidates between the two rounds. | The pro-Macron centrist alliance and the left-wing coalition finished neck-and-neck nationwide in the first round of voting, with roughly a quarter of the vote each, leading to fierce competition among candidates between the two rounds. |
| But the election has been plagued by record-low turnout so far. Only 47.5 percent of voters went to the polls last weekend, amid widespread disillusionment with France’s political process, and many have been more preoccupied by surging inflation. | But the election has been plagued by record-low turnout so far. Only 47.5 percent of voters went to the polls last weekend, amid widespread disillusionment with France’s political process, and many have been more preoccupied by surging inflation. |
| Presidents hold France’s most powerful political office, with broad abilities to govern by decree. But they need Parliament, and especially the National Assembly, to accomplish most of their bigger domestic policy goals, push through spending bills or change the Constitution. | Presidents hold France’s most powerful political office, with broad abilities to govern by decree. But they need Parliament, and especially the National Assembly, to accomplish most of their bigger domestic policy goals, push through spending bills or change the Constitution. |
| Some of Mr. Macron’s prominent campaign promises, like his vow to raise the legal age of retirement, require legislation. His new government also wants to tackle the effects of inflation, requiring lawmakers to vote on measures like food subsidies. | Some of Mr. Macron’s prominent campaign promises, like his vow to raise the legal age of retirement, require legislation. His new government also wants to tackle the effects of inflation, requiring lawmakers to vote on measures like food subsidies. |
| The main players in the elections are: | The main players in the elections are: |
| Ensemble, a centrist coalition that includes La République en Marche, the party that Mr. Macron founded and that swept to victory in 2017 with a wave of political newcomers as candidates. | Ensemble, a centrist coalition that includes La République en Marche, the party that Mr. Macron founded and that swept to victory in 2017 with a wave of political newcomers as candidates. |
| La Nouvelle Union Populaire Écologique et Sociale, more commonly known by its acronym NUPES, a left-wing alliance brought together by France Unbowed, the party of Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a veteran leftist firebrand, including the Socialist, Green and Communist parties. | La Nouvelle Union Populaire Écologique et Sociale, more commonly known by its acronym NUPES, a left-wing alliance brought together by France Unbowed, the party of Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a veteran leftist firebrand, including the Socialist, Green and Communist parties. |
| A group of traditional right-wing parties, led by Les Républicains, the mainstream conservatives. | A group of traditional right-wing parties, led by Les Républicains, the mainstream conservatives. |
| The far-right National Rally party of Marine Le Pen, who was defeated by Mr. Macron in the presidential runoff in April. | The far-right National Rally party of Marine Le Pen, who was defeated by Mr. Macron in the presidential runoff in April. |
| Ensemble and NUPES came out about even in the first round, with roughly 25 to 26 percent of the vote each. The National Rally got nearly 19 percent of the vote, and Les Républicains a little over 10 percent. | Ensemble and NUPES came out about even in the first round, with roughly 25 to 26 percent of the vote each. The National Rally got nearly 19 percent of the vote, and Les Républicains a little over 10 percent. |
| But contrary to many of its European neighbors, France awards seats to candidates who get the most ballots in each district, not by proportion of the total vote across the country. Pollsters say it is hard to predict the second-round results because every race is different, but they expect Mr. Macron’s party and its allies to get 255 to 310 seats and the left-wing forces to get 150 to 210 seats. | But contrary to many of its European neighbors, France awards seats to candidates who get the most ballots in each district, not by proportion of the total vote across the country. Pollsters say it is hard to predict the second-round results because every race is different, but they expect Mr. Macron’s party and its allies to get 255 to 310 seats and the left-wing forces to get 150 to 210 seats. |
| Mr. Macron’s party and its allies currently hold 345 seats — more than the absolute majority of 289. If they can retain an absolute majority, Mr. Macron will have a relatively free rein to enact his legislative agenda. But if they slip below it, Mr. Macron will have to reach across the aisle for support from political opponents, potentially hampering his domestic agenda. | Mr. Macron’s party and its allies currently hold 345 seats — more than the absolute majority of 289. If they can retain an absolute majority, Mr. Macron will have a relatively free rein to enact his legislative agenda. But if they slip below it, Mr. Macron will have to reach across the aisle for support from political opponents, potentially hampering his domestic agenda. |
| France’s 577 electoral districts cover the mainland, overseas departments and territories, as well as French citizens living abroad. Each district has one seat. More than 6,200 candidates ran for office nationwide in the first round of the elections. | France’s 577 electoral districts cover the mainland, overseas departments and territories, as well as French citizens living abroad. Each district has one seat. More than 6,200 candidates ran for office nationwide in the first round of the elections. |
| Any number of candidates can compete in the first round in each district, but there are specific thresholds to reach the second round. While in most cases the runoff will feature the top two vote-getters, on rare occasions it will feature three or even four of them. Whoever wins the most votes in that runoff wins the race. (Under some conditions, a candidate who gets more than 50 percent of the vote in the first round wins outright.) | Any number of candidates can compete in the first round in each district, but there are specific thresholds to reach the second round. While in most cases the runoff will feature the top two vote-getters, on rare occasions it will feature three or even four of them. Whoever wins the most votes in that runoff wins the race. (Under some conditions, a candidate who gets more than 50 percent of the vote in the first round wins outright.) |
| The two-round system usually produces stable majorities that French governments can rely on, but it comes at a cost. The makeup of the National Assembly does not always accurately reflect the country’s broader political landscape and usually skews in favor of bigger parties. Smaller ones complain that their voters do not get the representation they deserve, fueling disaffection with the political system. | The two-round system usually produces stable majorities that French governments can rely on, but it comes at a cost. The makeup of the National Assembly does not always accurately reflect the country’s broader political landscape and usually skews in favor of bigger parties. Smaller ones complain that their voters do not get the representation they deserve, fueling disaffection with the political system. |
| French presidential candidates, including Mr. Macron, have repeatedly floated the idea of fixing that discrepancy by introducing a dose of proportional representation for parliamentary elections. But a bill on that issue never came to fruition during Mr. Macron’s first term, and it is unclear whether he will pursue the idea during his second. | French presidential candidates, including Mr. Macron, have repeatedly floated the idea of fixing that discrepancy by introducing a dose of proportional representation for parliamentary elections. But a bill on that issue never came to fruition during Mr. Macron’s first term, and it is unclear whether he will pursue the idea during his second. |
| The National Assembly and the Senate — currently controlled by the right — are France’s two houses of Parliament. Both are based in Paris and play important roles in drafting bills and voting laws. But only the National Assembly is elected directly by the people, and it has more leeway to legislate and challenge the executive. | The National Assembly and the Senate — currently controlled by the right — are France’s two houses of Parliament. Both are based in Paris and play important roles in drafting bills and voting laws. But only the National Assembly is elected directly by the people, and it has more leeway to legislate and challenge the executive. |
| The National Assembly usually has the final word if the two houses disagree on a bill, and it is the only house that can topple a French cabinet with a no-confidence vote. | The National Assembly usually has the final word if the two houses disagree on a bill, and it is the only house that can topple a French cabinet with a no-confidence vote. |
| Mr. Mélenchon is hoping that NUPES can seize control of Parliament, topple Mr. Macron’s current cabinet, and force the president to appoint him prime minister. Results from last Sunday and projections by pollsters suggest that outcome is unlikely. But the left could still become the strongest opposition force in the lower house, giving it access to key committee chairs, for instance. | Mr. Mélenchon is hoping that NUPES can seize control of Parliament, topple Mr. Macron’s current cabinet, and force the president to appoint him prime minister. Results from last Sunday and projections by pollsters suggest that outcome is unlikely. But the left could still become the strongest opposition force in the lower house, giving it access to key committee chairs, for instance. |
| National Assembly lawmakers also have some prerogatives on major legislation such as spending or social security bills. They can question cabinet members, and they can establish investigative commissions and hold hearings, although their powers and the scope of their investigations are more limited than congressional inquiries in the United States. | National Assembly lawmakers also have some prerogatives on major legislation such as spending or social security bills. They can question cabinet members, and they can establish investigative commissions and hold hearings, although their powers and the scope of their investigations are more limited than congressional inquiries in the United States. |
| Unless the president dissolves the National Assembly and calls for new elections — a move that is rarely attempted — lawmakers are in office for five years. | Unless the president dissolves the National Assembly and calls for new elections — a move that is rarely attempted — lawmakers are in office for five years. |
| The last voting stations close at 8 p.m. on Election Day, which is when the French news media will work with pollsters to publish the first projected results based on preliminary counts. Races will be called district by district and the National Assembly’s final composition will become clear as the evening progress. Official results are on the Interior Ministry website. | The last voting stations close at 8 p.m. on Election Day, which is when the French news media will work with pollsters to publish the first projected results based on preliminary counts. Races will be called district by district and the National Assembly’s final composition will become clear as the evening progress. Official results are on the Interior Ministry website. |
| Several ministers are running in the elections, including Élisabeth Borne, the prime minister. Their races will be closely watched, as a loss by one or several of them would be seen as a rebuke of Mr. Macron, who has warned that those who are not elected will leave his cabinet. | Several ministers are running in the elections, including Élisabeth Borne, the prime minister. Their races will be closely watched, as a loss by one or several of them would be seen as a rebuke of Mr. Macron, who has warned that those who are not elected will leave his cabinet. |