France's Far-Right National Rally Makes Big Gains Against Macron In First Round Of Legislative Polls, Seeks Majority

In France's elections, the far right is in a strong position after the first round, with chances of Macron’s grouping of centrist parties ending up at a distant third in the first-round ballot. 

In France's elections, the far right is in a strong position after the first round, with chances of Macron’s grouping of centrist parties ending up at a distant third in the first-round ballot. 

France Elections: France’s far right is in a strong position after the first round of the country’s legislative elections. The lead, however, is not decisive but has certainly opened the gates of power for Marine Le Pen’s party.

The supporters of the National Rally (RN) cheered her as she took a swipe at French President Emmanuel Macron, who said the president’s “Macronist bloc has been all but wiped out.”

According to the BBC, RN was on course to win 33.2% of the vote, with a left-wing alliance behind at 28.1% and the Macron alliance behind at 21%.

“I aim to be prime minister for all the French people if the French give us their votes,” said 28-year-old RN party leader Jordan Bardella, as quoted by the BBC.

According to the projections, the French President’s decision to call voters back to the polls for the second time in three weeks appeared to have backfired.

Speaking after the first round of elections, veteran commentator Alain Duhamel said that never before has the far right won the first round of a French parliamentary election. The simple fact that it has become possible is historic.

Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella want an absolute majority of 289 seats in the 577-seat National Assembly. However, seat projections for next Sunday’s second-round run-off votes project that they may fall short, the BBC reported. 

Without an absolute majority, France will have a hung parliament, and the RN will be unable to push through its plans for immigration, tax cuts, and law and order.

According to the polling agencies in France, Macron’s grouping of centrist parties could end up at a distant third in the first-round ballot, as reported by France 24. Those projections put his camp behind both the National Rally and a new left-wing coalition of parties. 

With another week of campaigning to go before the final vote next Sunday, the ultimate outcome of the polls remained uncertain.