It’s already time to vote for some French people. While the legislative campaign ended on Friday evening, and we have now entered the famous “reserve period” which gives voters some media respite, Overseas France is already called to the polls. Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon was the first overseas territory to vote, this Saturday at noon Paris time. Guyana, the West Indies – Martinique/Guadeloupe/Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy – followed, and also some French people from abroad, notably those from North America and those from South America.
In the Pacific, voters cast their ballots on Sunday, but given the time difference, they will start heading to the polls on Saturday evening Paris time. Thus Saturday at 10 p.m. in Paris, the polling stations will open in Polynesia and in Wallis and Futuna. And at 11 p.m. in Paris, it will be Nouméa’s turn, where it will be 8 a.m. on Sunday. In the Indian Ocean, where the time difference is less, voters will vote well on Sunday. At 6 a.m. in Paris, the polling stations will open in Reunion, followed at 7 a.m. by those in Mayotte.
The ballot will determine which coalition, that of the outgoing presidential majority Together! or that of the left Nupes, will be in pole position, even if the outgoing majority remains favorite according to the polling institutes. The question is above all whether this majority will be absolute (289 deputies) or relative, determining Emmanuel Macron’s ability to implement his reforms. If the stake is slightly shifted in Overseas, where the parties are not always aligned with the parties of the Hexagon, Together! nevertheless appears in several duels. It remains to be seen whether the voters will mobilize, certain territories having a strong abstentionist tradition.