Macron looks for nod from voters to implement plan

PARIS－France began voting in the first round of parliamentary elections on Sunday as President Emmanuel Macron sought to secure his majority while under growing threat from a leftist coalition.

More than 6,000 candidates, ranging in age from 18 to 92, were standing for 577 seats in the National Assembly in the first round of the election. Those who receive the most votes will advance to the second round on June 19.

Following Macron's reelection last month, his centrist coalition is seeking an absolute majority that would enable it to implement his campaign promises, which include tax cuts and raising the retirement age from 62 to 65.

But opinion polls suggested Macron and his allies might have trouble winning over half of the parliamentary seats. A government with a large but not absolute majority would still be able to rule, but only by bargaining with legislators.

The main opposition force appeared to be a newly created coalition made up of leftists, greens and communists led by hard-left figure Jean-Luc Melenchon.

"I voted for hope… so not for our current president," said Michel Giboz, 71, after voting for Melechon's NUPES bloc at a polling station in the 18th Parisian district's town hall.

"We need to get rid of them (the president's party). This is the last hope to stay in a democracy, or what's left of it."

Ivan Warren, who voted for Macron in the presidential election, said it was important to hand him a majority.

"It's important to me that we have a strong government, which allows us to represent France in the most effective way possible," the 56-year-old computer scientist said.

At risk is Macron's ability to pass his reform agenda, including a pension reform he says is essential to restore public finances. His opponents on the left are pushing to cut the pension age and launch a big spending drive.

"We expect a difficult first round. Voters will want to send a signal," a government source told Reuters. "But we're counting on the second round to show that Melenchon's program is fantasy."

Though it appeared that Melenchon's coalition could win more than 200 seats, projections gave the left little chance of winning a majority. Macron and his allies were tipped to win between 260 and 320 seats, according to polls.

The two-round voting system is complex and not proportionate to the nationwide support for a party. Lawmakers are elected by district.

The parliamentary election is traditionally a difficult race for France's far-right candidates because rivals tend to step aside in the second round to improve the chances of another contender.

The National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen, who lost to Macron in the presidential election in April, hopes to do better than five years ago, when it won eight seats. With at least 15 seats, the far-right would be allowed to form a parliamentary group and gain greater powers in the National Assembly.

Agencie Via Xinhua