France's far-right National Rally secures third of votes in first round of parliamentary election

Historic success for French far-right which had never before won the first round of the French election. This follows another victory for RN in the MEP elections last month

1 July 2024, 9:43am
by Matthew Farrugia

1 min read

(Photo Marine Le Pen/X)

France’s far-right National Rally (RN) have dominated the first round of snap parliamentary elections on Sunday, bringing them one step closer to dominating the French parliament.

Marine Le Pen’s RN secured a third of the vote in the first round of the French election, while a left-wing coalition of parties obtained 28% of the vote, leaving French President Emmanuel Macron’s party struggling with 20.76%.

This represents a historic success for the French far-right who had never before won the first round of the French election. This follows another victory for RN in the MEP elections last month.

Dimanche, en votant pour nos candidats, vous ferez en sorte que le pays retrouve dans l'unité et la fraternité, l'énergie pour ne faire plus qu'un.

Mes chers compatriotes, ce 30 juin 2024, dans le pays renaît l'espérance. Le 7 juillet, mobilisez-vous pour que le peuple gagne ! pic.twitter.com/uIHnGwNicP
— Marine Le Pen (@MLP_officiel) June 30, 2024

France will now head to the second and final round of voting next Sunday.

RN leader Jordan Bardella pledged to be a prime minister for all French people in a press conference that aimed to project him as a leader.

The most likely scenarios for France next week seem to be an absolute majority for RN, or a hung parliament with RN holding a relative majority.

All eyes are now on next Sunday’s vote, which could turn one of the EU’s founding member states into a hotbed of political clashes between France’s right and left forces.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who had warned of civil war in the event of a far left or far-right win, is the biggest loser of the first round of the elections, as his centrist party could risk being wiped out in the next round of voting.

Matthew Farrugia is a staff reporter at MaltaToday