France election: Far-right 'at the gates of power' after first round win
The far-right National Rally of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella won France's election first round, a blow to President Emmanuel Macron.
PARIS — The political earthquake that France woke up to Monday was no less seismic because it may have been predictable.
The far-right swept to victory in the first round of legislative elections after President Emmanuel Macron’s almighty gamble backfired. Now the centrist leader and the country’s left, reeling from the historic results, were scrambling to thwart the National Rally (RN) in the decisive second round and prevent France’s first far-right government since the Nazi occupation in World War Two.
According to official results released by the country’s interior ministry early Monday, Marine Le Pen’s party and allies led the way with 33% of the vote, a bloc of left-wing parties followed in second with 28% and Macron’s centrist alliance trailed in third with just 20%.
Turnout was unusually high, adding to the sense of volatility. Nearly 60% voted, compared to 39.4% in 2022, according to the latest turnout numbers released by the interior ministry.
The results largely tracked opinion polls released ahead of the snap vote, called by Macron after his party took a beating from the RN in European Parliament elections last month.
Rating: 5