In an article in the Le Monde of 26th August, Patrick Roger writes that the Left needs 22 gains to become the majority - and estimations by Le Monde currently suggest a gain of 20 seats. Too close to call!!!
170 seats (out of 348) are being contested. There is an electoral college made up up members of the Assemblee nationale; Regional and Departmental Councils and delegates from municipal councils. The system has been frequently criticised for having an inbuilt over-representation of rural areas giving an advantage to right wing parties. Roger points out the difficulties in predicting the results, but - for the first time, as a result of recent successes in local elections - the Left can see the possibility of an historic win.
