French voters go to the polls on Sunday in the first of two rounds that will decide whether President Emmanuel Macron gets a working majority in parliament or ends up without the support needed to drive through his reform agenda.
Less than two months after re-election, Macron faces a strong challenge from a united left-wing bloc that polls show could deprive the president of an outright majority even if it does not take control of parliament.
Government insiders expect a rather poor showing in Sunday’s first round for Macron’s coalition “Ensemble”, with record numbers of voters seen abstaining. Hard-left firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon’s bloc hopes to capitalise on anger at the rising cost of living.
“I voted for hope… so not for our current president,” said Michel Giboz, 71, after voting for Melechon’s NUPES bloc at the poll station located in the 18th Parisian district’s town hall.
“We need to get rid of them (president’s party).
Ivan Warren, who voted for Macron in the presidential election, said it was important to hand him a majority.
His opponents on the left are pushing to cut the pension age and launch a big spending drive.
“We expect a difficult first round. Voters will want to send a signal,” a government source told Reuters. “But we’re counting on the second round to show that Melenchon’s programme is fantasy.”
Initial projections after the presidential election showed Macron was on course to get a majority in parliament. Meanwhile, Melenchon has successfully forged an alliance between his France Unbowed movement, the Socialists and the Greens.
One cabinet member most at risk is Clement Beaune, Macron’s Europe minister, who is campaigning in an eastern Paris constituency. As a former adviser on matters such as Brexit, Beaune, 40, is a close ally of the president.
“That would be a painful loss,” a government source said.
