The left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) appears to have come out on top, but only by a small margin, according to election exit polls
The newly-created left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) is posed to win thesecond round of the French parliamentary election, local media reported on Sunday, citing the first preliminary estimates provided by the Ipsos Talan polling agency. The coalition finished second in the first round.
The NFP is likely to still end up without gaining an absolute majority in the legislature as it is expected to get between 172 and 192 seats in the second round, according to the estimates. It had previously secured 32 seats in the 577-strong National Assembly in the first round last weekend.
The left-wing coalition is closely followed by President Emmanuel Macron’s liberal Ensemble coalition, which is reportedly expected to get between 150 to 170 seats in the second round. The right-wing National Rally (RN), which emerged as a winner last weekend with 37 seats, ended up being third this time. It is now projected to get between 132 to 152 seats this time.
The turnout this weekend is estimated to have been 67.1%, according to Ipsos Talan, which would be the highest since 1997, if confirmed.