Right-wing populism in France

French far right three-time presidential candidate Marine Le Pen Thursday said her National Rally (RN) party was still capable of winning an absolute majority in the second round of legislative elections this weekend.

A campaigner distributes election leaflets of the French far-right Rassemblement National (RN) for RN candidate Sandrine Chadourne on July 2, 2024 at a market in Libourne, southwestern France.

People gather at Republique plaza to protest the far-right National Rally, which came out strongly ahead in first-round legislative elections, Sunday, June 30, 2024.

The French press headlines and media comments highlight the disastrous failure of French President Emmanuel Macron, whose decision to call early elections backfired, resulting in a victory for Marine Le Pen‘s party, National Rally, in the first round.

European markets reacted positively to the results of the first round of parliamentary voting in France, with the euro strengthening on the foreign exchange market and stocks opening higher on Monday. Marine Le Pen's National Rally secured the lead in the election, but with a smaller margin than anticipated by pre-election polls.

Marine Le Pen's National Rally party, led by the young Jordan Bardella, secured the lead in the first round of historic French parliamentary elections, potentially setting the stage for the far-right to gain power for the first time since World War II, AFP reported.

People gather at Republique plaza to protest the far-right National Rally, which came out strongly ahead in first-round legislative elections, Sunday, June 30, 2024

A victory for Marine Le Pen’s party, as expected, is indicated by the first exit polls from the parliamentary elections in France.

Estimates give Le Pen’s National Rally 33%, while the New People’s Union, the coalition of the Center and the Left, is at 28.5%.

In third place, at a distance, is the party of President Emmanuel Macron with 22%.

Polling stations opened in France this morning, and everyone is wondering how high the percentages for the Le Pen will be and how significant the blow will be for Emmanuel Macron.

Polls opened in France on Sunday for the first round of snap parliamentary elections which could see the far-right party of Marine Le Pen take power in a historic first.