Left-wing New Popular Front coalition leads second round of French parliamentary elections –polls

An Opinionway poll for C News TV said the New Popular Front would win 180-210 seats while an Elabe poll for BFM TV projected a range of 175-205 seats for them.

By REUTERS

JULY 7, 2024 21:10

Updated: JULY 7, 2024 21:15

Demonstrators hold French flags and "Popular Union" flags in support of the "Nouveau Front Populaire" (New Popular Front - NFP) as they gather to protest against the French far-right Rassemblement National (National Rally - RN) party. Paris, France, June 30, 2024. (photo credit: REUTERS/FABRIZIO BENSCH) — Demonstrators hold French flags and "Popular Union" flags in support of the "Nouveau Front Populaire" (New Popular Front - NFP) as they gather to protest against the French far-right Rassemblement National (National Rally - RN) party. Paris, France, June 30, 2024.

(photo credit: REUTERS/FABRIZIO BENSCH)

France's left-wing New Popular Front coalition won the most seats in the second voting round of parliamentary elections, leading pollsters said on Sunday, putting them on track for an unexpected win over the far right National Rally (RN) party but short of an absolute majority in parliament.

An IFOP estimate for broadcaster TF1 said the New Popular Front could win 180-215 seats in parliament in the second voting round, while an Ipsos poll for France TV projected 172-215 seats for the left-wing bloc.

France's move to the right

An Opinionway poll for C News TV said the New Popular Front would win 180-210 seats while an Elabe poll for BFM TV projected a range of 175-205 seats for them.

Marine Le Pen and President Emmanual Macron (credit: FLICKR, PIXABAY)

President Emmanuel Macron's centrist bloc was seen narrowly ahead of Marine Le Pen's RN party in the battle for second place, according to these polls.

Two hundred and eighty-nine seats are needed for an absolute majority in the National Assembly, France's lower house of parliament.