French elections: towards a record turnout | Live coverage
You are browsing the Radio-Canada website
Go to main contentGo to footerNavigation help Start of main content
BlanketAnd directlyThe items on the following page may change order, and others may be removed or added at the time of update.
Published yesterday at 7:10 p.m. EDTUpdated today at 11:21 a.m. EDT
The French are going en masse to the polls to choose their next government.
Open in full screen mode
A person places their voting envelope in the ballot box.
Photo : Getty Images / MATTHIEU DELATY
Some 49 million French voters are called upon to renew the entire National Assembly, i.e. 577 deputies, during two rounds scheduled for June 30 and July 7.
Some 49 million French voters are called upon to renew the entire National Assembly, i.e. 577 deputies, during two rounds scheduled for June 30 and July 7.
Polls suggest a surge in the far right, represented by the National Rally of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella.
Polls suggest a surge in the far right, represented by the National Rally of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella.
The blitz ended at midnight Friday. Until Sunday evening, candidates no longer have the right to speak in the media or to travel in the field, and the publication of polls is prohibited.
The lightning campaign ended at midnight on Friday. Until Sunday evening, candidates are no longer allowed to speak to the media or travel to the field, and the publication of polls is prohibited.
President Emmanuel Macron provoked these early elections by announcing the dissolution of the National Assembly on June 9, the evening of the victory of the far right in the European elections.
President Emmanuel Macron provoked these early elections by announcing the dissolution of the National Assembly on June 9, the evening of the victory of the far right in the European elections.
Today
11 h 21
Record participation, according to initial figures
The turnout in the first round of France’s legislative elections on Sunday is expected to be around 67.5%, a record, according to an estimate by the Ipsos polling institute.
By the end of the day, it had already reached 59.39%, 20 points more than in the first round of 2022 at the same time, the French Interior Ministry said earlier.
It is also the highest rate since the first round of the 1978 legislative elections, with the exception of the 1986 election, which was held using proportional representation in one round.
AFP
9 h 37
Legislative elections: the French vote in a historic election
Open in full screen mode
A person places their voting envelope in the ballot box.
Photo : Getty Images / MATTHIEU DELATY
The French can go to the polls until 6 p.m. or until 8 p.m. in major cities, at which time the first results of the first round of legislative elections will emerge, likely to shake up the political landscape.
The first figures from the French Antilles have already been released: a candidate from the National Rally (RN, far right) will contest the second round of the legislative elections in Martinique, a first on this island, even if his score of less than 10% leaves little doubt about the outcome of the vote.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal will make a statement at the headquarters of the presidential Renaissance party after 8 p.m., according to his entourage.
France Media Agency
8 h 46
Strong enthusiasm among voters
4:13
Report by Tamara Altéresco, Radio-Canada correspondent in Paris
The French go to the polls for the first round of legislative elections three weeks after the dissolution of the National Assembly by President Emmanuel Macron.
The participation rate was up significantly on Sunday midday in mainland France, at 25.90%, compared to 18.43% during the 2022 election at the same time, according to the Ministry of the Interior.
8 h 20
First round of legislative elections that the far right could win
7:36
Interview with Christophe Barbier, editorialist at BFMTV
The French are going to the polls for the first round of legislative elections, three weeks after the dissolution of the French National Assembly by Emmanuel Macron which took everyone by surprise.
7 h 50
Macron and his wife vote in Le Touquet
Open in full screen mode
President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron
Photo : Getty Images / YARA NARDI
The French president and his wife Brigitte Macron leave the polling booths before casting their votes at a polling station in Le Touquet, in the north of France.
7 h 38
François Hollande from Corrèze
Open in full screen mode
Former French President Francois Hollande
Photo : afp via getty images / PASCAL LACHENAUD
François Hollande, former French president, member of the left-wing French Socialist Party (PS) and candidate of the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) coalition in the Corrèze department, voted in Tulle, in central France.
On June 22, Mr. Hollande declared that Macronism was over. If it ever existed, but it’s over.referring to the current president Emmanuel Macron.
With information from Agence France-Presse
7 h 07
Ciotti votes in Nice
Open in full screen mode
The president of the right-wing Les Républicains party, Éric Ciotti (L), leaves the voting booth at a polling station during the first round of the legislative elections in Nice, southern France, June 30, 2024.
Photo : Getty Images / VALERY HACHE
It was in Nice, in the south of France, that the president of the right-wing Les Républicains (LR) party, Éric Ciotti, cast his vote.
Divided France is voting for high-stakes legislative elections that could see Marine Le Pen’s anti-immigration, eurosceptic party come to power for the first time in its history.
The candidates officially ended their frenzied campaign at midnight on June 28, with political activity banned until the end of the year.
With information from Agence France-Presse
6 h 54
Tension palpable
These are not easy elections, the results are very uncertain, the repercussions can be serious for societycommented to theAFP Julien Martin, 38-year-old architect, in Bordeaux.
I am very worried, I don’t understand what is happening, why we have come to this point.says Amalia, a designer.
The anxiety and excitement were also palpable in Lyon.
We are afraid of the future, it is really decisive, there are choices that we would not wantnoted Christiane, a 73-year-old retiree.
Fearing riots, some downtown shopkeepers have protected the windows of their stores, which are closed on Sundays.
With information from Agence France-Presse
6 h 53
Gabriel Attal casts his vote in Vanves
Open in full screen mode
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal cast his vote in Vanves, a suburb of Paris.
Photo : Getty Images / ARNAUD FINISTRE
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal takes ballots before voting in the first round of legislative elections in Vanves, a suburb of Paris, June 30, 2024. Divided France is voting for high-stakes legislative elections that could see the anti-immigration and eurosceptic party of Marine Le Pen comes to power.
With information from Agence France-Presse
6 h 50
Participation on the rise
The participation rate in the elections was up significantly on Sunday midday in mainland France, at 25.90%, compared to 18.43% during the 2022 election at the same time, indicated the Ministry of the Interior.
In 1997, during the last early legislative elections, it was 22.74% at noon.
