French President Emmanuel Macron. File photoPARIS, Jun 14 French President Emmanuel Macron called on the French to make their choice in the second round of parliamentary elections at a difficult time marred by the conflict in Ukraine, rather than abstain from voting. The first round was held in France on Sunday elections to the National Assembly of the country (lower house of parliament). Polling stations in the regions have completed their work. According to the local Ministry of Internal Affairs, the turnout at 17.00 (18.00 Moscow time) was 39.42%. Following the results of the first round, President Macron's coalition «Together!» received 25.71% of the vote, the leftist «New People's Ecological and Social Union» (Nupes) Jean-Luc Mélenchon — 25.61%. «We are faced with a choice, and a great choice is not made by abstention (from voting — ed.). Therefore, I appeal to your common sense. On Sunday, the republic should not lose a single vote,» Macron said, addressing the French at the airport before flying to Romania. He noted that he decided to address his compatriots on the eve of the second round of parliamentary elections, since France is going through a historic period and will have to make a decisive choice in the context of the conflict in Ukraine, the turmoil in the global economy and the risk of a food crisis. The second round of parliamentary elections will be held in France on 19 June. In these elections, 577 deputies of the national assembly (lower house of parliament) are elected for a term of five years from almost 6,300 applicants for a deputy mandate. France «beaten», said Mélenchon
