Voting starts in 1st round of French parliamentary elections

By Esra Taskin

PARIS (AA) – Voting got underway in France at 8 a.m. on Sunday in the first round of parliamentary elections.

Re-elected President Emmanuel Macron looks to win majority, but faces stiff competition from an alliance of left-wing parties – the Socialists, Greens, Communists and France Unbowed party.

As many as 48.7 million citizens are eligible to vote in the elections for the 577-seat lower house, the National Assembly. Some 289 seats are needed for an absolute majority.

As many as 6,293 candidates are competing to win seats in the first round, while the second round follows a week later on June 19.

To win a seat, a candidate requires more than 50% of the vote, and support from a minimum 25% of the voters registered.

Any candidate who wins the support of at least 12.5% of registered voters can advance to the runoff.

*Writing by Merve Berker