Alors! It’s Macron’s Party

By Paul Jacobs in Paris

Newly elected French president, Emmanuel Macron, needs a majority in the French Parliament to carry out his reforms.

After this weekend’s first round of the parliamentary elections, he is in a good position to be able to carry them out.

The Socialists –– remember the former president was a Socialist — have well and truly fallen on their sword. After an initial dismal performance in the presidential elections, they managed only 10 per cent. Forget them.

In the second round, those candidates who obtained at least 12.5 per cent of the votes in their circumscription are entitled to participate. The winner is the first past the post.
Poor turnout by voters

It’s worth noting that in the first round was marked by a record poor turnout. Only fifty per cent of the voters actually voted.

The Républicans of the Right are running scared but did come in second with 21 per cent of the vote, compared to La République en Marche’s score of 32 per cent.

They are pinning their hopes on a return en force in next week’s second round, or so bleated their general secretary, Bernard Accoyer.

Front National get only 14 per cent

The Front National achieved 14 per cent of the vote followed by the Left party Les Insoumises on 11 per cent.

It is not looking good for the opponents of Mr Macron whose parliamentary candidates comprise a diverse group of people most of whom do not have any political experience.