France’s left-wing parties projected to finish first in parliamentary elections, keep far right at bay

A tense alliance between France’s centrist and leftist parties has kept the far-right National Rally party at bay, according to exit polls, with Prime Minister Gabriel Attal set to resign.

A tense alliance between France’s centrist and leftist parties has kept the far-right National Rally party at bay, according to exit polls, with Prime Minister Gabriel Attal set to resign.

In a surprising upset for the far right, a bloc of left-wing parties is projected to finish first, while President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance is predicted to come in second. Polling agencies suggest National Rally, known in France as RN, is set to come in third, despite having swept to victory after the first round of voting last weekend and polling highest among the parties.

Voter turnout was the highest in decades at 67.1%, and official results are expected early Monday.

Leftist leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon said the results were an “immense relief for the majority of people in our country” and called for Attal’s resignation.

“The president has a duty to call on the New Popular Front to govern,” he said.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/france-far-right-fails-win-majority-rcna160586

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