The second round of parliamentary elections is taking place in France today.

The vote is an important test for centrist President Emmanuel Macron

Emmanuel Macron was born on December 21, 1977 in the city of Amiens.

He is the youngest president to win a second term against far-right Marine Le Pen, but polling agencies do not give him a clear victory today.

Macron's party is unlikely to win an absolute majority.

Then the government will still be able to govern, but only after consultations with other support parties.

Turnout in Sunday's first round reached a record low for parliamentary elections, with less than half of France's 48.7 million voters voting.

Macron's party and its allies have almost equal votes with a new left-wing coalition of the hardline, socialists and greens.

At the national level, both received nearly 26% of the votes in the first round.

Jean-Luc Melanchon's United Left's New Ecological and Social People's Union (NUPES) still came in second with 25.66 per cent.

Marin Le Pen's National Assembly came in third with 18.67% of the vote.

Macron's candidates are expected to win more constituencies than their left-wing rivals, but will receive far fewer seats than five years ago.

Macron's parliamentary majority is hanging by a thread

To win the first round, the candidate must receive more than 50% of the votes cast and at least 25% of the votes registered in the constituency.

Politicians with at least 12.5% ​​are in the second round.

The victory is for the one who received the most votes.

Emmanuel Macron

elections