France‘s right-wing National Rally party has a strong lead in the first round of voting in the country’s legislative elections Sunday, projections show.
President Emmanuel Macron called for snap elections after France’s right-wing dominated elections three weeks ago during the European Union’s election. Early projections show the right-wing party leading, though early official results are expected later Sunday.
Polling suggests the National Rally has a good chance of winning the majority of the lower house of the French parliament, garnering about a third of the support. It would be an increase from their 18% win of the chamber in 2022.
The second round of voting is set to begin July 7. If the National Rally party win, it would be the first time the right-wing has been in power since Nazi Germany took over France during World War II.
The three main groups that are competing for control are the National Rally, Macron’s centrist political alliance, and the New Popular Front coalition which includes center-left, greens and hard-left forces.
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If the National Rally wins, Macron would be expected to name 28-year-old National Rally President Jordan Bardella as prime minister, where both Macron and Bardella would be in “cohabitation,” of French political power.
Macron called the election in hopes it would prevent the rise of the right-wing in France to keep them winning the presidency in 2027, when Macron’s second and final term is set to end.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
