The first projections are in: Marine Le Pen’s Rassemblement National is ahead in the parliamentary elections in France.
Marine Le Pen’s Rassemblement National is ahead in the first round of the French parliamentary elections. This is what initial projections show.
It is uncertain exactly what the parliament will look like after the election. Very few of the 577 seats will be awarded in the first round. In many constituencies, the run-off elections in the second round are decisive. While in the regular parliamentary election two years ago just five seats were won in the first round, according to the polling institute Ipsos, this time 80 to 90 seats could be won directly. The reason for this would be the expected higher voter turnout and a stronger concentration on the three political alliances.
Even though it is difficult to say anything about the second round, forecasts suggest that the right-wing nationalists could become the strongest force in the National Assembly. It is unclear whether this would be enough for an absolute majority – also because local alliances are often formed between the two rounds of voting that influence the outcome.
More information coming soon
