National Rally Leads First Round of French Parliamentary Elections

The far-right National Rally (RN) led the first round of France's parliamentary elections with around 34% of the votes, ahead of the New Popular Front (NFP) at 29% and President Macron's centrists. RN and its allies may secure between 260-310 seats in the second round on July 7. An absolute majority in the National Assembly requires 289 seats.

France's far-right National Rally (RN) party was seen leading the first round of parliamentary elections with around 34% of votes, pollsters IFOP, Ipsos, OpinionWay and Elabe said on Sunday. The leftwing New Popular Front (NFP) coalition was seen coming in second with around 29%, ahead of President Emmanuel Macron's centrist bloc in third spot with between 20.5-23%.

Elabe said in an estimate for BFM TV that the National Rally and its allies could win between 260-310 parliament seats in the second voting round on July 7, while Ipsos projected a range of 230-280 seats for RN and its allies in a poll for France Television. 289 seats are needed for an absolute majority in the National Assembly, France's lower house of parliament.