National Rally wins first round in France's parliamentary elections

In a decisive first round of voting, Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN) emerged as the front-runner in France's parliamentary elections, signaling a potential shift in the country's political landscape. According to a report on CNN, the RN secured 33.15% of the vote, surpassing both the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) coalition at 27.99% and President Emmanuel Macron's Ensemble alliance, which trailed with 20.76%, according to final results released by the Interior Ministry on Monday.

The strong showing positions the RN as a formidable contender to secure the most seats in the National Assembly. However, projections suggest they may fall short of the 289 seats needed for an outright majority in the 577-seat lower house, pointing towards a possible hung parliament and increased political uncertainty.

If current projections hold after the second round of voting next Sunday, the RN could secure between 230 to 280 seats, a significant rise from their current 88 seats. Meanwhile, the NFP is anticipated to secure between 125 to 165 seats, with Macron's Ensemble alliance expected to garner between 70 to 100 seats.

The elections, triggered by Macron following his party's defeat by the RN in the recent European Parliament elections, could potentially leave Macron navigating his presidential term alongside an opposition-led government. This scenario would mark a departure from the usual alignment between the president and parliamentary majority.

Celebrations erupted at the RN's election headquarters in Paris and other locales as results were announced. Marine Le Pen, addressing supporters, emphasized the critical nature of the upcoming second round, cautioning that victory was not assured yet.

"This election marks a decisive moment in the history of the Fifth Republic," remarked Jordan Bardella, the 28-year-old leader of the RN, echoing Le Pen's sentiments during a speech at the party's headquarters.

In response to the RN's surge, anti-far right protests broke out in cities like Paris and Lyon, underscoring the polarizing nature of the election. The NFP coalition, formed recently to counter the RN's momentum, vowed to withdraw candidates to consolidate support against the far right, invoking historical tactics to block their path to power.

As France prepares for a potentially tumultuous week of political bargaining and strategic voting, the outcome of the second round remains uncertain. Macron and his allies have called for a united front against the RN, emphasizing the stakes for the country's future direction amidst economic challenges and international relations complexities.

The final stretch of campaigning leading to the second round promises to be fiercely contested, with implications that could reshape France's political landscape for years to come.

[Information sourced from CNN]