Far-right National Rally win first round of elections in France with leader Marine Le Pen declaring President Macron’s alliance was ‘almost wiped out’ as it is forced into third

Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally won the first round of parliamentary elections on Sunday, leaving incumbent President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance in third place behind the left, according to polling agency forecasts.

The projections gave the RN 34.5% of the vote, compared to 28.5-29.1% for the left-wing alliance New Popular Front, and just 20.5-21.5% for Macron’s centrist camp. At the time of publication, only 34 of France’s 577 constituencies have announced final results.

Le Pen, the daughter of the party’s racist and anti-Semitic father Jean-Marie, said Macron’s alliance was “almost wiped out” in the first round of voting.

The first round of this year’s elections, called by Macron after a devastating defeat in the European Parliament elections earlier this month, saw a record turnout.

Opinion polls showed that 67.5% of the population voted in the national elections, the highest turnout in regular parliamentary elections in France since 1981. The final turnout in 2022, the last time national elections were held in the country, was just 47.5%.

Despite the victory, it is still not clear whether Le Pen’s party will win an absolute majority of seats in the lower house in the second round of the new National Assembly on July 7 and thus claim the post of prime minister.

The first round of this year’s elections, which Macron called after a devastating loss in the European Parliament elections earlier this month, saw a record turnout

The vote could give 28-year-old RN party leader Jordan Bardella (pictured), a protégé of longtime leader Marine Le Pen, a chance to form a government

In the second round, the seats where there was no absolute majority are reconsidered. In this way, the final composition of the National Assembly can be formed.

The vote could give the 28-year-old RN party chief, Jordan Bardella, a protégé of its longtime leader Marine Le Pen, a chance to form a government. Nazi occupation during World War II.

France’s last far-right leaders were Philippe Pétai and his Prime Minister Pierre Laval, who headed the Vichy regime that collaborated with the Nazis during World War II.

Bardella has previously said that he would only form a government if the RN obtains an absolute majority in the elections.

Le Pen spoke from her Hénin-Beaumont constituency in northern France, where she was elected to parliament without a second round. According to her, the RN is finally preparing for power for the first time in its history.

Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance (pictured) remained in third place behind the left

In the second round, the second votes will take place in seats where there was no absolute majority, allowing the final form of the National Assembly to be formed.

“In a democracy, nothing is healthier than political change,” Ms. Le Pen said. ‘We need an absolute majority for Emmanuel Macron to appoint Jordan Bardella as Prime Minister.

“I call on you to join the coalition of freedom, security and unity. No Frenchman will lose his rights – hope is reborn!’

Despite his humiliating third place in the first round of voting, Macron called for a broad coalition to stop the RN next weekend.

He said, “Faced with the National Rally, the time has come for a big, clearly Democratic and Republican rally for the runoff.”

Bardella responded by telling voters he would be the “protector” of their rights and freedoms.

“Victory is possible next Sunday and the alternative is also possible,” he added.

More to follow.