Macron's party winning as French abroad vote for MPs
The French parliamentary elections have already started in the overseas expat constituencies – and President Macron’s party, La République En Marche (REM) has won in 10 out of 11 of them.
Voting for the rest of France will not be until Sunday (June 11), but the elections by post and at consulates worldwide for French people abroad have so far confirmed the lead predicted in the parliamentary election polls for REM.
The only constituency not to elect a REM candidate was North and West Africa, which elected Paris senator Leila Aïchi – who was initially also listed as a REM candidate but the party cut links with her after a clash over her position on the disputed Western Sahara region in North Africa.
Some commentators are predicting that the result in the overseas constituencies means a landslide win for REM is likely in the coming elections in mainland France as well.
However turnout in the overseas constituencies was poor, at just 19%, which also meant that no candidate won outright at the first round – that requires an absolute majority and a turnout of at least 25%.
In the second round the overseas constituencies will vote on the same weekend as everyone else.
There are thought to be around 2m to 2.5m French people abroad, of whom 1.78m are registered on lists at consulates.
They are represented by MPs for the following constituencies: Canada and US; Central and South America; Northern Europe (which includes the UK); Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands; Andorra, Spain, Monaco and Portugal; Switzerland and Lichtenstein; Central Europe and Balkans; Italy, Greece, Cypress, Turkey and Israel; North and Western Africa; Middle East and Africa; Eastern Europe, Asia and the Pacific.
President Macron’s movement En Marche! was renamed La République en Marche when it became an official political party fielding parliamentary candidates.
