French officials reported unusually heavy turnout Sunday in a pivotal snap election called by President Emmanuel Macron that could see a once-fringe right-wing party on the doorstep to power.
With three hours to go before the polls close, the Interior Ministry said that just under 60% of voters had already cast ballots in the first round of parliamentary voting Sunday, 20 percentage points higher than the 39.42% turnout for the last such vote just two years ago.
The stakes this time are far higher, as the anti-immigrant, populist conservative National Rally party is making a strong bid to increase its presence in parliament, and perhaps seize an outright majority in the 577-seat National Assembly to challenge the centrist Mr. Macron over the final three years of his term.
Officials say the turnout is on track to hit as high as 70%.
No results have been released, but the heavy turnout may be a rare bit of good news for the embattled Mr. Macron, who gambled on the early election after the National Rally surged in European Union parliament voting June 6 to 9.
Multiple polls in recent days have suggested the National Rally and its leader Marine Le Pen were on course for a major victory, but Mr. Macron was gambling that center and left-leaning voters would turn out in force to limit the far-right’s surge.
The National Rally’s opponents are expected to combine strategies and candidates in the second round of voting July 7, in a bid to deny the National Rally and its allies more seats.
A lower turnout Sunday was widely seen as helping the conservatives, whose voters were believed to be more motivated given the widespread dissatisfaction with France’s economy and growing voter fatigue with Mr. Macron after seven years in office.
Early results of the polling were expected late Sunday evening in Paris.
• David R. Sands can be reached at dsands@washingtontimes.com.
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