(7 Jul 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
LEGAL NOTICE: Subscribers should ensure their broadcasters on any medium on Sunday July 7 until 1800GMT comply with the French electoral code, notably Article L49 Electoral Code, which prohibits the broadcast or publication by any means of communication, to the French public, messages that have the character of “electoral propaganda”.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Paris, France - 7 July 2024
1. Woman preparing to vote
2. Push in of woman placing ballot into box
3. Line of voters
4. Pan of sports hall polling centre to voting booths
5. Pull out from ballot box to voters
6. Voter emerging from booth
7. Voters waiting to cast ballots
8. Voters emerging from booths
9. Wide of famous Paris landmark the Arc de Triomphe ++MUTE++
STORYLINE:
Voting has begun in mainland France on Sunday in a pivotal runoff election that could hand a historic victory to Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally and its inward-looking, anti-immigrant vision — or produce a hung parliament and years of political deadlock.
French President Emmanuel Macron took a huge gamble in dissolving parliament and calling for the elections after his centrists were trounced in European elections on June 9.
The snap elections in this nuclear-armed nation will influence the war in Ukraine, global diplomacy and Europe’s economic stability, and they’re almost certain to undercut President Emmanuel Macron for the remaining three years of his presidency.
The first round on June 30 saw the largest gains ever for the anti-immigration, nationalist National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen.
A bit over 49 million people are registered to vote in the elections, which will determine which party controls the National Assembly, France's influential lower house of parliament, and who will be prime minister.
If support is further eroded for Macron’s weak centrist majority, he will be forced to share power with parties opposed to most of his pro-business, pro-European Union policies.
Racism and antisemitism have marred the electoral campaign, along with Russian cybercampaigns, and more than 50 candidates reported being physically attacked — highly unusual for France.
The government is deploying 30,000 police on voting day.
The elections wrap up Sunday at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT) in mainland France and on the island of Corsica.
Initial polling projections are expected Sunday night, with early official results expected late Sunday and early Monday.
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