France is witnessing a surge in voter participation during the second round of legislative elections.

As of noon, the turnout reached 26.63%, surpassing last week's first round by 0.73 points and the 2022 elections by 7.64 points.

This enthusiasm is reflected in the issuance of over 3.2 million proxy votes, four times higher than two years ago.

Regional variations are notable, with Bouches-du-Rhône showing high engagement at 34.59%, while Parisian suburbs lag behind.

The increased turnout extends to overseas territories, traditionally known for lower participation.

This unexpected democratic fervor follows a record-breaking first round, which saw the highest turnout since 1997 at 66.71%.