Protests Erupt in France as Far-Right National Rally Party Wins First Round of Elections

France is on the cusp of a political revolution as the far-right National Rally party, led by Marine Le Pen, has won the first round of the snap election, securing 34% of the vote and leaving incumbent President Emmanuel Macron's centrist alliance lagging in a distant third behind the left, according to projections by polling groups. The victory has sparked widespread protests and violence across the country, with demonstrators setting flares, smashing shop windows, and lighting fires across the historic city of Paris, which is set to host the Olympics in just 25 days.

The National Rally party's win marks a significant shift in French politics, with the far-right party poised to take control of the government for the first time in its history. The party's leader, Marine Le Pen, has been accused of having ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and of remaining soft on the despot despite his invasion of Ukraine in 2022 . Le Pen's party has also been criticized for its xenophobic views, with many denouncing what they see as a creeping acceptance of the party's anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric .

The protests, which erupted in response to Le Pen's win, have been marked by violence and chaos, with riot police deploying tear gas and firefighters struggling to contain the blazes set by protestors. Young women trying to enjoy nights out in the city were forced to stand behind armored cops, who fended off activists. The violence was so bad that riot police were forced to set off tear gas, while firefighters were called in to douse the blazes set by protestors.

The National Rally party's victory has been attributed to its ability to tap into the frustration and discontent of French voters, who are increasingly disillusioned with Macron's leadership and the country's economic woes. The party's young leader, Jordan Bardella, has been credited with leveraging social media to reach out to young voters, who are increasingly disillusioned with the traditional political establishment. Bardella has become a star in his own right on TikTok, with over 1.5 million followers, making him one of the most popular politicians in France. 

Despite the win, it is still unclear whether Le Pen's party would win an absolute majority of seats in the new National Assembly lower house in the July 7 second round and claim the post of prime minister . The party's victory has raised concerns about the rise of xenophobic views in France, with many denouncing what they see as a creeping acceptance of the party's anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric.

The second round of voting will see run-off votes take place in seats where there was no absolute majority, allowing the final shape of the National Assembly to form. The outcome of the election will have significant implications for France and the European Union, with many fearing that a National Rally victory could lead to a rise in xenophobic and anti-immigrant sentiment across the continent.

Why it Matters : The National Rally party's victory marks a significant shift in French politics, with the far-right party poised to take control of the government for the first time in its history. The party's win has raised concerns about the rise of xenophobic views in France, with many denouncing what they see as a creeping acceptance of the party's anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric .

The party's leader, Marine Le Pen, has been accused of having ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and of remaining soft on the despot despite his invasion of Ukraine in 2022 . The party's victory has also raised concerns about the impact on the European Union, with many fearing that a National Rally victory could lead to a rise in xenophobic and anti-immigrant sentiment across the continent.

Key Takeaways:

• The far-right National Rally won France's snap election, sparking protests and violence.
• Marine Le Pen's party got 34% of the vote, ahead of Macron's centrist alliance.
• This marks a shift, with the far-right poised to control the government for the first time.
• The National Rally is accused of ties to Putin and leniency after Ukraine's invasion.
• The win raises concerns about rising xenophobia and acceptance of anti-immigrant rhetoric.

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