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Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally party won the first round of legislative elections on Sunday, leaving incumbent President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance in third place behind the left, according to polling groups’ projections.
Projections gave RN 34.5% of the vote, compared with 28.5-29.1% for the left-wing New Popular Front alliance, and just 20.5-21.5% for Macron’s centrist camp.
The first round of this year’s elections, called by Macron after a devastating defeat in the European Parliament elections earlier this month, saw record levels of turnout.
Polls suggested that 67.5% of people vote in the national election, the highest turnout in a regular format legislative election in France since 1981. The final turnout in 2022, the last time national elections were held in the nation, was only 47.5%.
Despite the victory, it remains unclear whether Le Pen’s party would secure an absolute majority of seats in the new lower house of the National Assembly in the second round on July 7 and win the post of prime minister.
Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally party won the first round of legislative elections on Sunday
The first round of this year’s elections, called by Macron after a devastating defeat in the European Parliament elections earlier this month, saw record levels of turnout.
The vote could give RN party chief Jordan Bardella, 28 (pictured), a protégé of its long-time leader Marine Le Pen, the chance to form a government.
In the second round, a run-off vote will be held in the seats where there was no absolute majority, which will allow the final form of the National Assembly to be formed.
The vote could give the head of the RN party, Jordan Bardella, 28, a protégé of its leader Marine Le Pen, the opportunity to form a government, marking the first time that the far right has taken the reins of power in France since the Nazi Occupation. during world war II.
But Bardella has previously said he would only form a government if the RN wins an absolute majority in the election.
Speaking from her constituency of Hénin-Beaumont in northern France, where she was elected to parliament without a run-off, Le Pen said the RN was finally preparing for power for the first time in its history.
“In democracy, nothing is healthier than political change,” said Ms Le Pen. ‘We need an absolute majority for Emmanuel Macron to appoint Jordan Bardella as prime minister.
“I invite you to join the coalition of freedom, security and unity. No French person will lose his rights, hope is reborn!”
More to follow.
