In the first round of France’s parliamentary elections, Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN) has surged ahead, signaling a potential shift in the country’s political landscape. With 34% of the vote, RN has emerged as the frontrunner, followed by the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) coalition at 28.1%. President Emmanuel Macron’s coalition trails in third place with 20.3%.
Despite RN’s strong showing, it falls short of the 289 seats needed for an absolute majority in the National Assembly. This outcome suggests France may face heightened political uncertainty, with an unstable parliament looming after the second round of elections next Sunday.
President Macron, whose coalition’s diminished position may force him into a challenging coalition with opposition parties, could potentially navigate a turbulent remainder of his term.