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France is holding the first round of an early parliamentary election<\/a> on Sunday that could bring the country’s first far-right government since Nazi occupation during World War II.<\/p>\n The second round is on July 7, and the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain.<\/p>\n Three major political blocs are competing: The far-right National Rally,<\/a> President Emmanuel Macron\u2019s<\/a> centrist alliance, and the New Popular Front coalition<\/a> that includes center-left, greens and hard-left forces. The French system is complex and not proportionate to nationwide support for a party.<\/p>\n In the face of the far right\u2019s crushing victory in the European Parliament election earlier this month, Macron called an early vote in France because he otherwise feared the results would lead to paralysis in the legislature.<\/p>\n National Rally president Jordan Bardella<\/a><\/span><\/span> said that if he were to become prime minister, he would oppose sending French troops to Ukraine<\/a> \u2014 a possibility Macron hasn’t ruled out. Bardella also said he would refuse French deliveries of long-range missiles and other weaponry capable of striking targets within Russia itself.<\/p>\n Currently:<\/p>\n \u2014 France is facing an election like no other. Here\u2019s how it works<\/a> and what comes next<\/p>\n \u2014 Macron weakened at home and abroad<\/a> as an early French election gives the far right momentum<\/p>\n \u2014 In France\u2019s high-stakes legislative election, a Jewish candidate faces and fights hate<\/a> and division<\/p>\n \u2014 French far-right leader Bardella seeks to reassure voters<\/a>, EU partners on economic, foreign policies<\/p>\n \u2014 French prime minister seeks to step out from Macron\u2019s shadow<\/a> in the upcoming early election<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the latest:<\/p>\n Polls open in France in exceptionally high-stakes legislative election<\/p>\n Voters across France have begun casting ballots in the first round of an early legislative election that could see far-right forces taking over the government \u2014 or no majority emerging at all.<\/p>\n Polling stations opened in mainland France at 8 a.m. Sunday (0600 GMT). The first polling projections are expected at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT), when the final polling stations close, and early official results later Sunday night.<\/p>\n The outcome of the two-round election could impact European financial markets, Western support for Ukraine<\/a> and how France\u2019s nuclear arsenal and global military force<\/a> are managed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n