Macron expected to win legislative election
After winning the presidential election with two-thirds of the vote last month, Emmanuel Macron and his En Marche movement are poised for another resounding victory in the first round of parliamentary elections today.
Pollsters predict Macron’s movement to secure between 350 and 400 out of 577 seats up for grabs. If this eventuates, the new president will have the biggest majority since President Jacques Chirac in 2002.
While these expectations are partly explained by Macron’s ability to reach out to politicians from across the political spectrum, the country’s opposition is exceptionally weak—the Socialists, which ruled for the past 5 years, may secure as few as 15 seats.
Securing a legislative majority will allow Macron’s En Marche to more easily pursue and enact labour reforms, cuts to corporation taxes and public spending cuts.
The second and final round of the election will be held on June 18.
Delve deeper: Why France’s Macron needs to win a legislative majority
