France: Voting Begins In First Stage Of Two-Round Legislative Elections

In France, voting has begun in the first stage of the two-round legislative elections called by President Emmanuel Macron today. Former President Nicolas Sarkozy, Greens party leader Marine Tondelier, and former Prime Minister and Macron ally Edouard Philippe were among the first high-profile politicians to vote. According to the Ministry of Interior, the turnout in mainland France was more than 25 percent by midday. Macron dissolved the National Assembly on the 9th of this month after the far-right National Rally hammered his centrist alliance in the European elections. Elections for the 577 seats in the lower house National Assembly are a two-round process. The shape of the new parliament will become clear after the second round on the 7th of July.