French Elections

France's Far-Right National Rally Surges in Parliamentary Elections

Shock Result as Macron's Gamble Backfires

Party Members Attempt to Maintain Optimism Despite Projected Losses

In a stunning turn of events, France's far-right National Rally (RN) has made significant gains in the first round of parliamentary elections. The party, led by Marine Le Pen, has secured 334 seats, delivering a major blow to President Emmanuel Macron's centrist party, La République En Marche (LREM).

Macron's decision to call a snap election appears to have backfired spectacularly, with RN making inroads particularly in rural areas where the party's anti-immigration and anti-EU rhetoric has resonated with voters. The result is a further sign of the growing strength of far-right movements across Europe, following the recent Labour Party victory in the United Kingdom.