\n<\/p>\n
The far-right National Rally party in France scored a convincing early lead<\/a> in the first round of the country\u2019s parliamentary elections on Sunday, according to pollsters, bringing controversial leader Marine Le Pen<\/a><\/span><\/span> a step closer to forming a government.<\/p>\n President Emmanuel Macron<\/a><\/span><\/span>, of the centrist Renaissance party, executed a high-stakes gambit<\/a> last month by dissolving parliament after National Rally made significant gains in the European Parliament election.<\/p>\n Macron hoped that National Rally\u2019s hard-line immigration stance and antisemitic history would dampen its votes in the legislative election, but that wasn\u2019t the case Sunday.<\/p>\n National Rally and its allied parties won about 33 percent of the vote in the first round, according to early projections. A left-wing coalition of parties received 28 percent of the vote, while Macron\u2019s coalition gathered 21 percent.<\/p>\n Nearly two-thirds of French voters turned out on Sunday, a massive increase from the pivotal 2022 elections, which saw Macron triumph over Le Pen for the presidency. That election saw just under 40 percent turnout.<\/p>\n If National Rally were to gain a majority in parliament, it would force Macron to name a National Rally member \u2014 likely party president Jordan Bardella<\/a><\/span><\/span> \u2014 as prime minister. It would also effectively gridlock his agenda<\/a>.<\/p>\n Macron has faced numerous challenges<\/a> in recent months, including unrest over inflation and the economy writ large. Opponents mainly campaigned on cost of living increases and other common economic gripes with the French government.<\/p>\n Renaissance and the left-wing coalition, meanwhile, have attacked National Rally for its nativist policies, including a proposed large-scale immigration crackdown and limits on the rights of dual nationals.<\/p>\n Bardella has already pledged to scale back arms shipments to Ukraine if elected, a stark shift from Macron, who is among Europe\u2019s most staunch allies of Kyiv.<\/p>\n Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, a Macron ally, warned of dire stakes if his opponents prevail in the second round of voting next week.<\/p>\n A runoff will be held in districts where no parliamentary candidate secured 50 percent of the vote, and maneuvering in the coming days will decide the dynamics for each local race. National Rally would need 289 out of the 577 seats to secure an outright majority.<\/p>\n \u201cThe extreme right is at the doors of power,\u201d Attal said, twice describing National Rally policy pledges as \u201cdisastrous.\u201d He added that in the second-round ballot, \u201cnot one vote should go to the National Rally. France does not deserve that.\u201d<\/p>\n Macron\u2019s coalition finished a distant third in voting, behind a left-wing coalition that placed second.<\/p>\n Attal said Sunday that candidates from his party who came in third in first round votes will bow out, in order to boost the left-wing coalition against National Rally.<\/p>\n Le Pen appeared energized with the results, urging backers to fully oust Macron\u2019s government from power.<\/p>\n \u201cThe French have almost wiped out the \u2018Macronist\u2019 bloc,\u201d she said after polls closed, adding that the results show voters\u2019 \u201cwillingness to turn the page after seven years of contemptuous and corrosive power.\u201d<\/p>\n Bardella painted his opponents as \u201cdangerous\u201d in an appeal to voters.<\/p>\n \u201cThe choice is clear,\u201d Bardella said, accusing the left-wing coalition of campaigning for \u201cdisarming the police,\u201d \u201copening wide the doors for immigration\u201d and criticizing leftist leaders for \u201cinsulting institutions and anyone who thinks differently from them.\u201d<\/p>\n The second round of voting is July 7.<\/p>\n The Associated Press contributed.<\/em><\/p>\n Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/i><\/p>\n For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. <\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nHigh turnout points at high stakes for election<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Prime minister urges voters to block far-right in second round<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Le Pen seeks \u2018absolute majority\u2019 in parliament<\/strong><\/h2>\n