France votes in polls that may see the left cement grip on power
Source: Agencies |
June 11, 2012, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
FRENCH voters choose lawmakers for the lower house of parliament yesterday, in a poll that will determine whether new President Francois Hollande's Socialists or rival conservatives control the government.
The elections, followed by runoffs a week later, will also show whether Hollande can push his tax-the-rich, down-with-austerity agenda, and how much of a voice the far right will have in policies on immigration and Muslim practices.
Polls show the Socialists with a slight lead - but it's unclear whether they will get the solid majority Hollande needs to fulfill the promises he made to disgruntled voters during his election showdown with conservative Nicolas Sarkozy, whose party dominates Parliament.
Marine Le Pen's anti-immigration National Front, buoyed by her strong third-place showing in the spring presidential race, is also looking to win a voice in parliament for the first time since the 1980s. Her aims of undoing the euro currency, shrinking immigration, protecting "Frenchness" and fighting what she calls Islamization have won her fans among French voters who fear globalization, and among extreme right movements around Europe.
At midday turnout was 21.06 percent, according to figures released by the Interior Ministry. That was slightly below the 22.56 percent who'd voted by midday in the first round of the last parliamentary elections in 2007.
The legislative race hasn't garnered nearly the headlines or drama of the presidential race in April and May, and many polls suggest turnout among France's 46 million voters could be around 40 percent - far less than when Hollande beat Sarkozy.
The new lower house serves for the next five years, coinciding with Hollande's five-year term.
Voters are choosing representatives for all 577 seats in the Assemblee Nationale representing mainland France and its overseas territories, from French Polynesia in the South Pacific to Guadeloupe in the Caribbean.
The Socialists and their allies hope to get at least 289 seats for a majority.
The elections, followed by runoffs a week later, will also show whether Hollande can push his tax-the-rich, down-with-austerity agenda, and how much of a voice the far right will have in policies on immigration and Muslim practices.
Polls show the Socialists with a slight lead - but it's unclear whether they will get the solid majority Hollande needs to fulfill the promises he made to disgruntled voters during his election showdown with conservative Nicolas Sarkozy, whose party dominates Parliament.
Marine Le Pen's anti-immigration National Front, buoyed by her strong third-place showing in the spring presidential race, is also looking to win a voice in parliament for the first time since the 1980s. Her aims of undoing the euro currency, shrinking immigration, protecting "Frenchness" and fighting what she calls Islamization have won her fans among French voters who fear globalization, and among extreme right movements around Europe.
At midday turnout was 21.06 percent, according to figures released by the Interior Ministry. That was slightly below the 22.56 percent who'd voted by midday in the first round of the last parliamentary elections in 2007.
The legislative race hasn't garnered nearly the headlines or drama of the presidential race in April and May, and many polls suggest turnout among France's 46 million voters could be around 40 percent - far less than when Hollande beat Sarkozy.
The new lower house serves for the next five years, coinciding with Hollande's five-year term.
Voters are choosing representatives for all 577 seats in the Assemblee Nationale representing mainland France and its overseas territories, from French Polynesia in the South Pacific to Guadeloupe in the Caribbean.
The Socialists and their allies hope to get at least 289 seats for a majority.
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