01:44Marine Le Pen, leader of nationalist France’s National Rally cast her vote in a polling station in Henin-Beaumont on Sunday, in the first round of a snap parliamentary election.
Polling stations opened at 0600 GMT and are scheduled to close at 1600 GMT in small towns and cities, with a later deadline of 1800 GMT in larger cities. The timing of the vote coincides with the traditional first week of summer vacation in France. Notably, requests for absentee ballots have surged, surpassing the numbers recorded during the 2022 elections.
French President Emmanuel Macron also exercised his voting right on the same day in Le Touquet.
French President Emmanuel Macron called the snap legislative vote following huge losses for his Renaissance party in the EU Parliament elections, which saw a huge surge for Jordan Bardella's National Rally. The next election was not expected until 2027.
Across the bloc, conservative, nationalist and anti-immigration groups also made large gains. Many called for a focus on domestic priorities amid the soaring cost of living, as well as lower taxes, better border security and an end to foreign military interventions, such as in Ukraine.
France's election is held over two rounds, on June 30 and July 7, electing all 577 members of the National Assembly. Macron has not held a majority in parliament since 2022 and has used executive powers to pass legislation like his pension reforms, which have seen huge protests.
Marine Le Pen casts vote in first round of snap election as France heads to polls
Marine Le Pen, leader of nationalist France’s National Rally cast her vote in a polling station in Henin-Beaumont on Sunday, in the first round of a snap parliamentary election.
Polling stations opened at 0600 GMT and are scheduled to close at 1600 GMT in small towns and cities, with a later deadline of 1800 GMT in larger cities. The timing of the vote coincides with the traditional first week of summer vacation in France. Notably, requests for absentee ballots have surged, surpassing the numbers recorded during the 2022 elections.
French President Emmanuel Macron also exercised his voting right on the same day in Le Touquet.
French President Emmanuel Macron called the snap legislative vote following huge losses for his Renaissance party in the EU Parliament elections, which saw a huge surge for Jordan Bardella's National Rally. The next election was not expected until 2027.
Across the bloc, conservative, nationalist and anti-immigration groups also made large gains. Many called for a focus on domestic priorities amid the soaring cost of living, as well as lower taxes, better border security and an end to foreign military interventions, such as in Ukraine.
France's election is held over two rounds, on June 30 and July 7, electing all 577 members of the National Assembly. Macron has not held a majority in parliament since 2022 and has used executive powers to pass legislation like his pension reforms, which have seen huge protests.
Marine Le Pen, leader of nationalist France’s National Rally cast her vote in a polling station in Henin-Beaumont on Sunday, in the first round of a snap parliamentary election.
Polling stations opened at 0600 GMT and are scheduled to close at 1600 GMT in small towns and cities, with a later deadline of 1800 GMT in larger cities. The timing of the vote coincides with the traditional first week of summer vacation in France. Notably, requests for absentee ballots have surged, surpassing the numbers recorded during the 2022 elections.
French President Emmanuel Macron also exercised his voting right on the same day in Le Touquet.
French President Emmanuel Macron called the snap legislative vote following huge losses for his Renaissance party in the EU Parliament elections, which saw a huge surge for Jordan Bardella's National Rally. The next election was not expected until 2027.
Across the bloc, conservative, nationalist and anti-immigration groups also made large gains. Many called for a focus on domestic priorities amid the soaring cost of living, as well as lower taxes, better border security and an end to foreign military interventions, such as in Ukraine.
France's election is held over two rounds, on June 30 and July 7, electing all 577 members of the National Assembly. Macron has not held a majority in parliament since 2022 and has used executive powers to pass legislation like his pension reforms, which have seen huge protests.