In France, the parliamentary elections are almost seen as a simple procedure that confirms the president's hold on power with a majority in parliament. Indeed, the polls take place just a few weeks after the presidential election. But will this year be different? Emmanuel Macron secured his second term as president fairly comfortably, with over 58 percent of the vote in the second round. But this may have been less of an endorsement and more of a resigned move to block the far right.
One thing has changed in the past few weeks: an unexpected alliance on the usually disparate left. The awkwardly named NUPES brings together the France Unbowed movement, as well as the Communists, Greens and Socialists all under the same umbrella, with the gambit of making France Unbowed's Jean-Luc Mélenchon the next prime minister. Momentum appears to be on their side.
So can Macron hold on to his majority? What is standing in the way? And will voters show up at the polls?
Produced by Alessandro Xenos, Juliette Laurain and Imen Mellaz.
