Polls open in French legislative elections

The Sunday elections, followed by runoffs a week later, will also show whether Hollande can push his tax-the-rich, down-with-austerity agenda, and how much of a voice the far right will have in policies on immigration and Muslim practices.

The legislative race hasn't garnered nearly the headlines or drama of the presidential race in April and May, and many polls suggest turnout among France's 46 million voters could be around 40 percent — far less than in Hollande's showdown with Nicolas Sarkozy.

The new lower house serves for the next five years — coinciding with Hollande's five-year term.