The French are turning out in droves to vote, with one in four voters having already cast their ballots. According to figures released by the country’s Ministry of the Interior, as of noon French time, turnout stood at 26.63%, up from 25.9% in the first round.
The increase in voter turnout is even more striking when one considers that in the corresponding election in 2022, turnout barely reached 18.99%, while, as noted, this is the highest turnout since the 1981 parliamentary elections, when the corresponding rate was 28.3%.
Today, then, the French are voting for 501 of the country’s 577 single-member districts, as 76 members of parliament were already elected in the first round, having received more than 51% of the votes cast.
The security measures are draconian
Approximately 30,000 police officers have been deployed throughout France amid fears of unrest in light of the far-right’s apparent election victory—the first in the country’s history.
As the Guardian Prime Minister Gabriel Attal urged people via social media to «reject the prevailing climate of violence and hatred,» adding that such attitudes have no place in our democracy.
Government spokesperson Prisca Teveno echoed this sentiment, saying: «Violence is never the solution,» Teveno emphasized on social media, going on to say that «I’m not just saying this as a government spokesperson, but more so as the daughter of immigrants and the mother of children of mixed heritage. They no longer do this anonymously, but with their faces uncovered—and even with a certain sense of pride.».
Political violence has skyrocketed since President Macron unexpectedly announced early parliamentary elections, immediately after the results of the European elections were announced on June 9. Since then, authorities have recorded more than 50 physical attacks on candidates and party officials.
For example, four young people, three of whom were minors, were arrested a few days ago on charges of assaulting government spokesperson Prisca Teveno, while she and other members of her party were putting up campaign posters in a suburb outside Paris.
