The French football team faces a potential clash with the first round of the legislative elections on June 30, 2024. After a draw against the Netherlands, the Blues might end up playing the round of 16 in Euro 2024, competing for viewership with election night coverage. If they finish among the top four third-place teams in the group stage, they could face the first in Group C at 6 p.m. or the first in Group B at 9 p.m., both times overlapping with the elections.
Didier Deschamps and his team have a good chance of qualifying for the round of 16, given their strong start in Euro 2024. Currently, they are second in Group D, tied with the Netherlands and ahead of Austria. Their next match against Poland, who are already eliminated, will be crucial. A loss to Poland and a win by Austria against the Netherlands could push France to third place, creating a potential scheduling conflict for broadcasters.
The upcoming legislative elections in France are heating up, with the National Rally (RN) leading in the polls. The RN is credited with 33 to 35% of the vote, ahead of the New Popular Front bloc with 28 to 29%, and the Macronist majority with 19 to 21.5%. An Odoxa study suggests that the RN, allied with Eric Ciotti, could secure an absolute majority in the National Assembly.
Emmanuel Macron has called on voters to prevent 'extremes' from gaining power, referring to both the far-left and far-right parties. He emphasized the need for diverse governance and urged the French people to vote thoughtfully in the upcoming elections. The New Popular Front has unveiled a budgetary recovery program, proposing 25 billion euros in additional spending from 2024, which has been criticized by the presidential majority as a 'tax bludgeoning'.
The Ministry of the Interior has reported a significant increase in proxy votes for the upcoming elections, with over 1,055,067 proxies established between June 10 and 20. This represents a substantial rise compared to the 2022 elections. The unexpected timing of the elections, announced after the dissolution of the National Assembly, and their scheduling at the start of the summer period, have contributed to this surge in proxy voting.
- The French football team's potential clash with the legislative elections highlights the complex scheduling and broadcasting decisions that may need to be made. Broadcasters like TF1 and M6 will have to balance the importance of a knockout football match with the significant political event of the elections.
- The legislative elections are crucial, with the National Rally potentially securing an absolute majority. This could bring significant political shifts in France. Emmanuel Macron's call to action emphasizes the importance of preventing extremist parties from gaining power, highlighting the stakes involved in these elections.
- The increase in proxy votes indicates a high level of engagement and the importance of these elections to the French public. The shorter campaign period and the unforeseen nature of the elections have led many voters to secure their ability to vote through proxies, ensuring their participation despite potential scheduling conflicts.
