National Rally leads in first round of French parliamentary elections

The right-wing National Rally party has taken a significant lead in the first round of France's extraordinary parliamentary elections.

The National Rally has secured 33 per cent of the vote, placing it ahead of the left-wing alliance, the New Popular Front, which garnered 28.5 per cent, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The presidential coalition, Together for the Republic, received 22 per cent.

Projections from the sociological service Elabe suggest that in the second round, the National Rally could win between 260 to 310 seats in the National Assembly, the lower house of the French parliament. The New Popular Front is expected to secure between 115 to 145 seats, while Together for the Republic could gain between 90 to 120 seats.

Marine Le Pen, the head of right-wing National Rally party, has been re-elected as member of the National Assembly, the lower house of the French parliament. This victory comes from the district of Hénin-Beaumont, where Le Pen ran for office.

To secure a win in the first round, a candidate must receive the support of at least half of the district's voters. Although the precise number of deputies elected in the first round has not yet been disclosed, Le Pen's victory marks a significant achievement for the National Rally party. The National Assembly is composed of 577 MPs in total.

Following her re-election, Le Pen urged her supporters to remain engaged and actively participate in the second round of voting, scheduled for July 7. "Victory has not yet been won. The second round of elections will be decisive," Le Pen stated, emphasizing the importance of continued voter turnout to secure further wins for her party.

Meanwhile, leftists held large-scale rally in Paris following first round of parliamentary elections.

Thousands of supporters of the New Popular Front, a coalition of leftist parties, organized a massive rally at the Place de la Republique in Paris after the first round of early parliamentary elections in France.

Demonstrators waved flags of Palestine and South Africa, and held posters "against fascism" and the "extreme right."

Some participants climbed a monument in the center of the square, where they made inscriptions using spray paint.

Chanting slogans, the crowd expressed strong opposition to the right-wing National Rally party. Despite the large turnout and anti-police slogans, the atmosphere remained generally calm, with police officers maintaining a watchful presence around the square without intervening.

Left-wing protests against a potential National Rally victory in the second round of elections also took place in other major cities, including Lille, Nantes, and Lyon.

According to Le Figaro, the demonstrations in Nantes and Lyon escalated into clashes with security forces, who deployed tear gas to disperse the crowds. Protesters in these cities blocked roads with improvised barricades, set off fireworks, and threw various objects at police officers. However, authorities reported no major clashes, detainees, or injuries.