site.btaFrance Prepares for European Elections as Paris Is Gripped by Olympic Fever

France is preparing to vote on June 9 in elections to the European Parliament, where it will elect 81 out of 720 MEPs.

These elections are important for the European Union, as France is the second largest economy and the second largest population in the EU, and therefore the second most represented in the European Parliament after Germany. The two countries are contesting the top spot in terms of political influence in the bloc of 27, and the results of their votes will largely determine the EU agenda for the next five years.

However, a short walk in Paris shows that something quite different is on the agenda in the French capital - the hectic preparations for the Olympics, which will start at the end of July. The Eiffel Tower is already decorated with the Olympic rings, a sports venue is being built for the games by Place du Trocadero, and the entire Champ de Mars has been turned into a huge construction site and closed to visitors.

Sociologists confirm the relatively weak interest in the European elections. They predict a voter turnout of around 42%, significantly lower than in the previous elections in 2019, when it was over 50%. 

The main question is not whether, but by how much the far right National Rally party under its 28-year-old leader, Jordan Bardella, will win.

President Emmanuel Macron is expected to suffer defeat. The question is whether his Renaissance party will be able to limit the damage by retaining at least second place.

This is far from certain as the Socialist Party, led by the strong polling performance of Raphael Glucksmann, are hot on the heels of the little-known Renaissance list leader Valerie Ayer. In the polls, they each have about 15%, while the other parties are hovering just above the minimum threshold for entry of 5%.

At the same time, Bardella and the National Rally party get over 32% of the voting intention - twice as much as Renaissance.

The far-right also won the last European elections in France in 2019, but only by a narrow margin over Macron's party.