Polling for the second phase of the presidential election is being held in France today. According to Pakistani time, the polling has started at one o’clock in the day. Polling will continue till 11 pm in small towns and till 1 am in big towns.
Marine Le Pen, head of the far-right National Rally party, won the first round. The possibility of their success in the second stage is strong, so the formation of the first far-right government in France following the Second World War is expected.
In the second phase too, the National Rally Party will win a large number of seats, but it is unlikely to get a clear majority. This might result in a hung parliament. Thus the government of President Emmanuel Macron will be weakened.
A hung parliament might be a major blow to France’s political system as it would weaken President Macron’s authority and force him to follow the will of parliament in key decisions. In such a situation, the political system may suffer a bit of a stalemate.
The Nationalist National Rally Party is skeptical regarding its commitment to the European Union. If she wins a majority, the pro-business and pro-EU French president will reluctantly go along with her.
The first phase of the elections in France was held last week. In the second phase, the left-wing and centrist political parties decided to come together on a platform to block the landslide victory of Marine Le Pen of the National Rally Party.