Marine Le Pen's Far-Right National Rally Leads First Round in France Election

The first round of France's parliamentary election has resulted in a historic victory for Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN) party, with exit polls showing the party winning around 34% of the vote. This marks a significant setback for President Emmanuel Macron, whose Together alliance was seen winning 20.5%-23% of the vote .

The RN's share of the vote was comfortably ahead of leftist and centrist rivals, including the New Popular Front (NFP), a hastily assembled left-wing coalition, which was projected to win around 29% of the vote. The exit polls were in line with opinion surveys ahead of the election, and were met with jubilation by Le Pen's supporters.

However, the final result will depend on days of horsetrading before next week's run-off. The RN's chances of winning power next week will depend on the political dealmaking made by its rivals over the coming days. In the past, centre-right and centre-left parties have teamed up to keep the RN from power, but that dynamic, known as the "republican front," is less certain than ever.

Why it Matters : The RN's historic gains have significant implications for French politics and the European Union. Le Pen's party has been known for its anti-immigrant and eurosceptic stance, which could lead to a shift in France's policies on immigration and the EU. The party's rise to power could also have a ripple effect on European politics, emboldening other far-right parties across the continent.

The RN's supporters were jubilant, with Le Pen telling a cheering crowd that "the French have shown their willingness to turn the page on a contemptuous and corrosive power." The party's president, Jordan Bardella, said he was ready to be prime minister if the party wins an absolute majority.

The centre-left and far-left parties have called on their third-placed candidates to drop out, with France Unbowed leader Jean-Luc Melenchon saying "our guideline is simple and clear: not a single more vote for the National Rally." However, the centre-right Republicans party gave no guidance, leaving the door open for potential alliances.

Market reaction to Sunday's result was muted, with the euro gaining around 0.23% in early Asia-Pacific trading. Fiona Cincotta, senior markets analyst at London's City Index, described relief that the result yielded "no surprises."

The complex calculus of the election results will continue to unfold in the coming days, with experts saying seat projections after first-round votes can be highly inaccurate. No nationwide official results were available on Sunday evening, but they were expected in the coming hours.

Key Takeaways

• Marine Le Pen's National Rally party wins around 34% of the vote in the first round of France's parliamentary election.
• The party's historic gains mark a significant setback for President Emmanuel Macron's Together alliance.
• The RN's chances of winning power next week depend on political dealmaking by its rivals.
• The party's rise to power could have significant implications for French politics and the European Union.
• The election results have sparked a wave of political uncertainty, with market reaction muted and experts warning of inaccurate seat projections.

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