Macron suffered a blow in the French election

Paris: The far-right Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) party is leading in the first round of France’s parliamentary elections, as they have edged out competitors in seizing power in a way different from before.

RN obtained 33.15% of the votes, while the center-right New Popular Front (NFP) secured 27.99%, and President Emmanuel Macron’s party fell to third place with 20.76%. These results were announced by the Ministry of the Interior on Monday.

Despite RN’s apparent lead in the popular vote, it seems likely they will fall short of the 289 seats needed for an outright majority, indicating a fragmented political landscape in France.

Estimates suggest that following the second round of voting next Sunday, RN could win between 230 and 280 seats out of 577 in the lower house of parliament—a result that could be seen as a setback when compared to the 88 seats gained in the last parliamentary elections. The NFP is expected to secure between 125 and 165 seats, with their coalition aiming for 70 to 100 seats.

76 candidates were elected in the first round, with 39 from RN, 32 from NFP, and two from Macron’s party, according to the Ministry of the Interior’s preliminary results.

The election, which Macron urged after his party suffered setbacks in European parliamentary elections earlier this month, could thwart his plans to serve the full three-year term as prime minister of a coalition government.

RN’s electoral campaign in the northern French city of Henin-Beaumont gained significant momentum upon the announcement of the results—but Marine Le Pen quickly emphasized that Sunday’s second round could make the voting results uncertain.

“Democracy has spoken; the French people have given the National Rally and its platform the leading position—they have drastically reduced the Macronist party,” said the jubilant people, adding, “Nothing is won—we will have the second round.”

Speaking at RN’s Paris headquarters, 28-year-old party leader Jordan Bardella delivered a speech praising Le Pen.

“The events unfolding in the second round are among the most decisive moments in the history of the Republic,” Bardella said.

In a speech ahead of the first round, Bardella said he would oppose Macron’s majority government, which RN needs to enact its laws. If RN fails to reach a full majority that Bardella is confident in, Macron is expected to seek a second term or possibly another office to build a technocratic government.

Following the announcement of the results Sunday night, protests erupted in Paris and Lyon, with up to 5,500 people gathering in Place de la Republique, according to CNN’s BFM TV