PARIS: France is in the last stages of preparing for parliamentary elections, in which voters will elect 577 members of the National Assembly. The first round of voting will take place on Sunday, while the second will take place on June 19, as per reports.
Each deputy is chosen in a constituency, with 539 constituencies in Metropolitan France (the part of the country that is geographically in Europe) and 27 constituencies in the overseas territories. A total of 11 representatives will represent French people living in other countries. Deputies are directly elected for a five-year term.
The French Interior Ministry has released a list of 6,293 candidates for this year's election, which is 20% less than last year, according to local news outlet BFMTV. Polling booths in Metropolitan France will open at 8 a.m. on Sunday for registered voters.
A candidate is elected without the need for a second round if he or she receives an absolute majority in the first round, with more than 50% of the vote and a turnout rate of no less than 25%. Candidates that receive at least 12.5% of registered voters' support in the first round will progress to the second round on June 19.
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