France holds snap parliamentary elections as polls open for voters to cast their ballots

Polls have opened in France for the first snap parliamentary elections in nearly three decades, with voters casting their ballots to choose 577 MPs who will form the new parliament. The stakes are high, as the far-right is hoping to make significant gains in this election.

According to researcher Bruno Cautres from Sciences Po university, the party that wins the first round of the election is likely to also win the second round. This means that the outcome of the initial voting could have a major impact on the composition of the new parliament.

Al Jazeera’s Step Vaessen is on the ground in Nice, monitoring the latest developments at a polling station in the southern city. With most voters expected to head back to the ballot boxes for a second round in a week, the results of this election will be closely watched both within France and internationally.

The outcome of these snap parliamentary elections will have significant implications for the future direction of French politics, with parties like the far-right National Rally Party and the centrist Renaissance Party vying for seats in the new parliament. Stay tuned for updates as the election progresses.