Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally party will get the biggest vote share in the first round of France’s parliamentary elections, according to exit polls.

As polls closed on the first round of voting on Sunday, National Rally had a strong lead at 33%, followed by the left-wing New Popular Front coalition on 28.5%.

President Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance party are polling third with an estimated 22%.

Addressing supporters in Henin-Beaumont, northern France, Ms Le Pen said: “For the moment nothing is won, and the second round will determine the outcome.”

She warned voters to “be careful” in the coming days, and urged them to “mobilise” ahead of the second round on 7 July.

The result is almost double the 18% National Rally achieved in the 2022 elections and puts them in good stead to become the largest party in France’s lower house.

Read more
Who are National Rally?

France votes in snap election that could make history

France election: Marine Le Pen on the brink of power, as Emmanuel Macron’s big gamble looks set to fail

France: Growing unease in Paris suburbs over National Rally’s lead ahead of election

France has a semi-presidential system – these elections are for the 577 seats in the National Assembly.

Mr Macron is the president and was elected in a separate presidential vote.

The system means there is both a president and prime minister – who have separate powers.

Mr Macron called an early parliamentary election after his Renaissance party was decimated by Ms Le Pen’s anti-immigration one in the European elections.

Her 29-year-old protégé and party leader Jordan Bardella has enjoyed a spike in popularity, particularly among younger voters on TikTok, amid increasing discontent with Mr Macron.

He told supporters in Paris on Sunday evening: “Three weeks after the European elections the French people have given a verdict and they have confirmed their clear hopes for change.

“This is giving us hope throughout the country.”

He warned of the “dangers” of the second-place left-wing coalition and said its leader Jean-Luc Melenchon could put France in “existential peril”.

Mr Bardella therefore urged his supporters to rally ahead of the next vote and said “victory is possible” on 7 July.

Although the two-round vote means the final result may not be totally clear until next week, if National Rally ends up as the largest party, Mr Macron would be compelled to make him prime minister.

The French president and prime minister have been from different political parties only three times in its history.

Related posts:

Thai navy in purr-fect rescue of four cats abandoned on burning sinking ship Tsunami warnings issued and thousands told to evacuate after powerful New Zealand quake Flood deaths reach 170 as officials warn risk isn’t receding Thousands evacuated and homes destroyed by flooding in North Korea, amid worsening food shortage Arrest in unsolved case of three Britons and cyclist shot dead in Alps in 2012 ‘We will get there’: Child who fled two wars trying night after night to make it to Britain Rescuers resume search after Nepal plane crash – as day of mourning observed Unfazed and surprisingly alert: Imran Khan warns of threats to Pakistan’s democracy Zelenskyy’s shopping list of goals as he touches down in Germany Earthquake in Morocco has killed dozens of people, officials say Hand grenade fragments found in bodies of victims after Prigozhin plane crash – Putin Controversial far-right Israeli minister taken to hospital after car accident