Still, observers say, Macron does well in voters' eyes on security issues, as he has struck a harder line than the left historically. The left has capitalized on the incidents to criticize Macron over brutal policing methods. That came a week after police chiefs were condemned for using tear gas on soccer fans at the Champions League final in the French capital. Police violence has also become a political hot potato recently after a fatal police shooting in Paris. However, Mélenchon’s plans to raise the minimum wage to 1,400 euros a month will surely curry favor among blue-collar voters. Macron hopes his initiatives to boost growth and food production will play well among the electorate. Inflation is a key issue among voters, as energy and food prices soar. It has the final say in the law-making process over the Senate. The National Assembly, the lower house, is the more powerful of France’s two houses of parliament. Le Pen’s party, which won eight seats in 2017, hopes this time to get at least 15, allowing it to form a parliamentary group and gain greater powers at the Assembly. That tactic has often been used to block candidates from Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally party. In some cases, three or four people make it, though some may step aside to improve the chances of another contender. Legislators are elected by district.Ī parliamentary candidate requires over 50% of the day’s vote to be elected outright on June 12.įailing that, the top two contenders, alongside anyone who won more that 12.5% of the registered vote, go forward to a second round. The French system is complex and not proportionate to the nationwide support for a party. He also wants to lower the retirement age to 60, restore wealth taxes and raise the minimum wage by 15%. Mélenchon would like the Fifth Republic, established by Charles de Gaulle in 1958, scrapped in favor of a Sixth Republic with the aim of making it more democratic and parliamentary-based, instead of the current presidential system. Mélenchon recently softened his tone to attract more traditional leftist voters, and took a resolutely pro-environment stance, bringing him growing support from young people.
Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire branded him the “Gallic Chavez,” comparing him to the late Venezuelan president. He has a radical vision for France - and a theatrical way of presenting it. “Difficult is not even the word.”Ĭoming in a strong third placing in April's presidential election, the mercurial septuagenarian leader of the France Unbowed party pressed on to capitalize on this popularity. Probably a Prime Minister Mélenchon,” said Rozenberg. “Prime Minister (Elisabeth) Borne will be forced to quit, all ministers will change, and will be chosen by the prime minister. If Nupes gains control, Macron would be forced to name a prime minister from that coalition. To try to avoid this and prevent gridlock, in 2000 the constitution was changed to reduce the presidential term from seven to five years and move the parliamentary elections into the same five-year cycle.īut this year’s vote is closer that it’s been in years. This fraught power-sharing scenario is called cohabitation. The last time France had a president and parliamentary majority from different parties was two decades ago, when conservative President Jacques Chirac found himself working alongside a Socialist prime minister, Lionel Jospin. And if it’s Mélenchon’s coalition it will be very hostile to his agenda,” said Olivier Rozenberg, Associate Professor in legislative studies at the Sciences Po university. But key economic and domestic issues will be decided by the government. “If Macron loses control, he will be a hobbled president - mainly in charge of foreign affairs, defense and Europe. This could prove disastrous for the president’s agenda, which includes tax cuts, welfare reform and raising the retirement age. But a poor showing for his coalition could be a thorn in his side for the rest of his second five-year term. Macron will have substantial powers over foreign policy whatever the outcome of this poll.
Macron and his allies are expected to win between 260 and 320 seats, according to latest polls. Though Mélenchon's coalition could win more than 200 seats, current projections give the left little chance of winning a majority. But observers think Macron's party and allies could have trouble getting an absolute majority - the magic number of 289 seats - this time around.Ī government with a large, but not absolute, majority will still be able to rule, but only by bargaining with MPs. If Macron’s coalition, Ensemble!, keeps control, the president will be able to carry out his agenda as before.
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