After Sunday's first round of legislative elections, French President Emmanuel Macron is seen in strong position to have a landslide majority in the lower house of parliament, clearing the way for him to implement reforms.
Figures released by the interior ministry showed Macron's movement The Republic On The Move (LREM) and its ally MoDem garnered 32.32 percent of the vote, suggesting that the novice president will be able to count on obtaining more than 400 seats.
However, fewer than half of the 47 million voters cast their ballots in the first round, the lowest level by far in a legislative election in the fifth Republic, according to official data.
Analysts attributed the record low turnout to long months of election campaigns which started with primary competition of different parties in Nov. 2016, in addition to a widespread feeling that June election would not change the situation.
Despite the expected huge win, the LREM were anxiously to mobilize their supporters to vote on June 18, to add a new triumph to the presidency victory on May 7.
Government spokesman Christophe Castaner said high abstention rate was "this election's failure."
"We must hear that. We must restore confidence. I call on all the candidates, whatever their political party, to mobilize," he told France 2 television.
"And then, it is the government's responsibility, that of the president, that of the prime minister, to restore trust in the election process," he said on Monday.
Shortly after partial results released on Sunday evening, LREM leader Catherine Barbaroux said "nothing is granted" despite the movement's good score.
"Low turnout invites us to continue our efforts more than ever. The first round is not decisive. Mobilization must continue and must be reinforced in the second round," she said.
Voter participation is crucial and one of the deciding factors for candidates vying for seats in the lower house, as they need to secure more than 50 percent of the vote to avoid a second-round ballot. Otherwise, candidates need to obtain 12.5 percent in the first round of vote to head to the runoff.
Out of more that 7,800 contenders for the race to the National Assembly, only four candidates have been elected in the first round, namely, Sylvain Maillard and Paul Molac (LREM), Stephane Demilly (UDI centrist party) and Napole Polutene (Left).
The outcome of the second round of parliamentary election is vital for Macron to strength his hand to set on ground pro-business and labor market reforms he promised.
