The first round of voting in elections to France's National Assembly was under way on Sunday, with the far-right National Rally (RN) challenging President Emmanuel Macron's centrist forces for control of the lower house.
Turnout for the snap elections was higher than generally expected, with 59.39% of eligible voters having cast ballots by 5 pm (1500 GMT) on Sunday, according to France's Interior Ministry.
That is almost 20 percentage points higher than at the same time in the previous French general election in 2022, and already above the overall voter turnout figure of 47.51%.
About 49.3 million people are eligible to vote in the election. Polling stations, which opened at 8 am, will remain open until 8 pm. The first exit polls and projections on the outcome of the election are expected shortly after polls close.
Voting in a number of overseas territories had already started on Saturday due to the time difference.
Gains by far-right expected
Macron called the snap election after National Rally made large gains in elections to the European Parliament at the beginning of this month.
Macron's term runs through 2027 and his office is not at stake, but the results could have major implications for the remainder of his term and reshape French politics.
The RN is leading in pre-election polling ahead of the new leftist alliance, the New Popular Front (NPF), recently established to contest the elections. The Ensemble (Together) alliance, led by Macron's Renaissance party, is trailing in third place.
Recent polls put Macron's centrist camp, an alliance led by his Renaissance party, in third place with between 20% and 20.5%.
Le Pen's RN and its allies were clearly ahead with 36% to 36.5%, followed by the NPF with 29%.
The security forces in France have prepared for the possibility of unrest in some of the country's major cities on the evening of the first round of voting.
A number of leading politicians cast their votes on Sunday morning, including Macron, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, far-right National Rally (RN) leader Jordan Bardella and RN former presidential candidate Marine Le Pen.
If the RN secures a majority in the 577-member National Assembly, Macron will be compelled to appoint a prime minister from its ranks to secure a stable Cabinet.
Candidates securing an absolute majority in the first round are elected to the assembly, but in most constituencies the victor will emerge only after the second round on July 7.
Forecasts predict that the right-wing nationalists could become the strongest force in the National Assembly. Whether it could also be enough for an absolute majority is unclear - also because local alliances are often formed between the two rounds of voting, which influence the outcome.
While the left could remain stable, Macron's centrist camp is likely to lose seats.
Losses could be trouble for Macron
Such an outcome would have serious consequences.
The National Assembly is one of two French chambers of parliament. It is involved in legislation and can topple the government with a vote of no confidence.
If a bloc other than Macron's centrist camp were to win an absolute majority, Macron would de facto be forced to appoint a prime minister from its ranks. There would then be a so-called cohabitation.
Macron's power would shrink significantly and the prime minister would gain relative power.
The right-wing nationalists are explicitly aiming to win the election and assume government responsibility. RN leader Bardella is set to become prime minister, replacing Macron's incumbent Attal.
Europe looks on
The election is being followed with interest in Brussels and Berlin.
German businesses are concerned about the consequences of the election if the extreme right or the extreme left come to power.
"When analysing the economic policy announcements of the right and the left, German and French companies come to the same conclusion: France's attractiveness would suffer," said Patrick Brandmaier, managing director of the Franco-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce, in Paris.
Macron's second and final term in office ends in 2027. A sharp decline in support for his Renaissance-led bloc is certain to limit his effectiveness.
National Rally's Le Pen is seen as a serious contender in the next presidential election.
