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| French voter turnout falls sharply in second round | French voter turnout falls sharply in second round |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Voter turnout in the second round of France's parliamentary election is sharply down on the last vote five years ago, official statistics show. | Voter turnout in the second round of France's parliamentary election is sharply down on the last vote five years ago, official statistics show. |
| Turnout was 35.3% at 17:00 local time (16:00 BST) on Sunday, down from 46.42% at the same time in the 2012 election. | |
| The second-round vote is a run-off between the top candidates from last Sunday's first round. | The second-round vote is a run-off between the top candidates from last Sunday's first round. |
| President Emmanuel Macron is hoping to obtain a strong mandate in parliament to help him pursue his reform plans. | President Emmanuel Macron is hoping to obtain a strong mandate in parliament to help him pursue his reform plans. |
| His La République en Marche (Republic on the Move or LREM) with its MoDem allies is expected to win most seats. | His La République en Marche (Republic on the Move or LREM) with its MoDem allies is expected to win most seats. |
| Traditional parties are urging voters to back Mr Macron's rivals to stop a monopolisation of power. | Traditional parties are urging voters to back Mr Macron's rivals to stop a monopolisation of power. |
| President Macron formed his party just over a year ago, and half of its candidates have little or no political experience. | President Macron formed his party just over a year ago, and half of its candidates have little or no political experience. |
| They include a retired bullfighter, a Rwandan refugee and a mathematician. | They include a retired bullfighter, a Rwandan refugee and a mathematician. |
| A party needs 289 seats to control the 577-seat National Assembly. LREM is predicted to win more than 400. | A party needs 289 seats to control the 577-seat National Assembly. LREM is predicted to win more than 400. |
| What happened in part one? | What happened in part one? |
| In the first round Mr Macron's LREM and MoDem won 32.3% of the vote. | In the first round Mr Macron's LREM and MoDem won 32.3% of the vote. |
| The centre-right Republicans had 21.5%, while the far-right National Front (FN) had 13.2%, followed by the far-left La France Insoumise (France Unbowed) on just over 11%. | The centre-right Republicans had 21.5%, while the far-right National Front (FN) had 13.2%, followed by the far-left La France Insoumise (France Unbowed) on just over 11%. |
| The Socialists, previously France's ruling party, and their allies won just 9.5%. | The Socialists, previously France's ruling party, and their allies won just 9.5%. |
| However, the turnout was low, despite claims that President Macron had re-energised the voting public. | However, the turnout was low, despite claims that President Macron had re-energised the voting public. |
| Analysts said it reflected a sense of resignation among his opponents. | Analysts said it reflected a sense of resignation among his opponents. |
| Who is in the second round? | Who is in the second round? |
| Only four seats were settled in the first round. | Only four seats were settled in the first round. |
| The second round will see the two top-placed contenders for each seat facing each other, along with any other candidate who won the support of at least 12.5% of registered voters in the district. | The second round will see the two top-placed contenders for each seat facing each other, along with any other candidate who won the support of at least 12.5% of registered voters in the district. |
| Here are some of the key battles to look out for: | Here are some of the key battles to look out for: |
| Is Macron the anti-Trump? | Is Macron the anti-Trump? |
| Can Macron's new party win majority he needs? | Can Macron's new party win majority he needs? |
| What are the challenges for Macron? | What are the challenges for Macron? |
| Mr Macron, 39, defeated Marine Le Pen in the presidential run-off in May. | Mr Macron, 39, defeated Marine Le Pen in the presidential run-off in May. |
| He needs a majority to push through the changes that he promised in his campaign, which include: | He needs a majority to push through the changes that he promised in his campaign, which include: |
| Macron's economic plans | Macron's economic plans |