France has witnessed a remarkable surge in voter turnout as the first round of snap parliamentary elections nears its conclusion. These elections have the potential to reshape the country's political landscape, with President Emmanuel Macron's centrist alliance at risk of being ousted and potentially partnering with the far-right in an uneasy alliance for the remainder of his term.

As of 5pm local time, the French interior ministry reported a turnout of 59.39% of voters, representing a substantial 20% increase compared to the last parliamentary elections held in 2022. The voting process commenced at 8 a.m. local time, as France embarked on selecting the 577 members of the National Assembly through locally contested races across the nation and its overseas territories.

The decision to hold these elections three years earlier than scheduled came on the heels of Macron's Renaissance party suffering a significant defeat to the far-right National Rally (RN), led by Marine Le Pen, in the European Parliament elections. Acknowledging the message sent by voters, Macron made the "serious, heavy" decision to call for a snap election, the first of its kind in France since 1997. Regardless of the outcome, Macron has pledged to remain in office until the next presidential election in 2027.

The National Assembly holds responsibility for passing domestic legislation, including matters such as pensions, taxation, immigration, and education. On the other hand, the president determines the country's foreign, European, and defense policy. A cohesive relationship between the president and the parliamentary majority ensures smooth government functioning, while a discordant alliance can result in gridlock, which could pose challenges for France as it prepares to host the upcoming summer Olympics next month.

France has experienced a cohabitation government in the past when right-wing President Jacques Chirac called for snap polls. Chirac was forced to appoint socialist Lionel Jospin as prime minister, resulting in a five-year tenure. The first round of votes in the current parliamentary elections eliminates weaker candidates, paving the way for the second round to take place next Sunday. Only candidates who secure more than 12.5% of the registered voters' ballots are eligible to proceed to the second round.

The electorate is divided into three main blocs: the RN-led far-right alliance, the recently-formed left-wing coalition called the New Popular Front (NFP), and President Macron's centrist Ensemble. The RN bloc is led by Jordan Bardella, who has worked to rebrand the historically tainted image of the party. The possibility of a far-right government in France, which was previously unthinkable, is now within reach, with Bardella potentially becoming the country's prime minister and Europe's youngest in over two centuries.

Opposing the far-right alliance, a coalition called the New Popular Front has emerged, aiming to recreate the original Popular Front that prevented fascists from assuming power in 1936. This broad alliance includes figures such as Jean-Luc Melenchon, a three-time presidential candidate and leader of the France Unbowed party, as well as moderate leaders like Raphael Glucksmann from Place Publique.

Representing Macron's centrist Ensemble alliance is outgoing French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, who took office just in January this year and was reportedly among the last to learn about the snap election. The polls are set to close at 8 p.m. local time on Sunday, with full results expected to be available early the following Monday.

Correction (June 20, 2023): A previous version of this article provided an incorrect time for the polls' opening in the election. The correct timing is 8 a.m. local time on Sunday, not 2 a.m. ET.