Analysis one month before the French general elections
14th May 201246 million French citizens are being called to ballot on 10th and 17th June to renew the National Assembly, the lower chamber of Parliament, that comprises 577 MPs elected by direct universal suffrage for 5 years in a two-round first past the post majority system. In order to be elected in the first round a candidate has to win the absolute majority of the votes cast, matching at least one quarter of the voters registered. All candidates that have won at least 12.50% of the vote in the first round are allowed to stay for the second. Seven political parties are represented in the National Assembly at present: the UMP, 313 seats; PS, 186 seats; PCF 15 seats; PRG, 7 MPs; the Greens 4 seats; MoDem, 3 MPs and the MPF, 1 seat. There are 9 independent MPs on the right and 15 on the left.
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