site.btaFrance Holds Second Round of Snap Parliamentary Elections, Result to Determine Far-Right's Power

The French Sunday vote in the second round of snap parliamentary elections called by President Emmanuel Macron. The first round on June 30 was won by the far-right National Rally party. If that direction is confirmed on Sunday, for the first time since World War II the far-right wing might return to power, the AFP said.

It will become clear on Sunday evening whether France's next prime minister will be National Rally President Jordan Bardella. The party announced that unless they have absolute majority, they will not head the next government.

Regardless of the election result, observers expect hard days for President Macron, whose political force remained third in the first round of elections. He will probably face ever greater resistance to legislative changes and bigger political initiatives. He has three more years of his term in office, and in the next one year he cannot call new snap general elections.

Macron called Sunday's snap elections after his political force's poor performance in the European Parliament elections in early June. Many described his decision as a huge risk that has not led to the results he expected.

The first results from Sunday's vote are expected in the evening after the polling stations close at 9 pm (Bulgarian time) in the big cities. A total of 501 out of 577 MP seats will be distributed based on the second round of elections.

The French elections' result will also be assessed in light of the growing support for the far-right in Europe observed in the European Parliament elections. The French voters' decisions are expected to have an impact on the support for Ukraine, NATO's activity, EU enlargement, and the future of migrants.