The far-right National Rally has made significant gains in the first round of parliamentary elections in France, with Marine Le Pen’s party receiving approximately 34% of the vote, according to projections. This outcome has put the centrist government alliance supported by President Emmanuel Macron at risk of losing power.
In the first round, Le Pen’s National Rally was followed by the leftist alliance New Popular Front with approximately 29% of the vote and Macron’s Together alliance with 20%. The final round of voting will take place on July 7th, with the parties vying for 577 seats in the National Assembly.
After the initial results, Le Pen emphasized the importance of securing a majority vote in the second round, which could potentially result in National Rally president Jordan Bardella becoming France’s prime minister. Macron called for a snap election following Le Pen’s party’s success in the European parliamentary elections, seeking to prevent the rise of far-right or far-left governments in the country.
Macron highlighted the dangers of turning to extreme ideologies during a recent interview, urging voters to reject quick solutions offered by such parties. Le Pen, who has been defeated by Macron in past presidential elections, has seen her party make significant gains in recent years, garnering over 41% of the vote in