Emmanuel Macron casts his ballot in crucial French legislative elections amidst heightened stakes for power sharing with the far right

Paris/Panjab Post
French President Emmanuel Macron participated in pivotal legislative elections on Sunday, where the prospect of power-sharing with the surging far-right looms large. The decision to hold these unexpected elections followed significant gains by the anti-immigration, nationalist National Rally in the June 9 European elections. Macron took a calculated risk, banking on historical voter resistance to the far-right party. However, in the first round on June 30, the National Rally garnered unprecedented support, prompting leader Marine Le Pen to rally voters for an outright majority in the second round. Today’s polls will determine control of the National Assembly and the next prime minister. Should no party secure an absolute majority, coalition negotiations will likely shape the future government formation.