France election: Blow for Le Pen’s far-right national party as voters deliver win for the left, exit poll shows
National Rally has come third in the second round of voting in France’s parliamentary election, according to exit polls.
Marine Le Pen’s far-right party was being tipped to emerge as the dominant force in French politics following President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to hold a snap poll.
But the left-wing New Popular Front coalition (NPF) is expected to win the most seats (182) in the second voting round of parliamentary elections.
President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist group, Ensemble, is predicted to win 163 seats with National Rally (RN) in third on an estimated 143 seats. according BFM TV.
As it happened: France elections latest
After RN emerged from the first round of voting as the leading party, centrist and leftist parties agreed to withdraw 221 candidates, including 83 from President Macron’s camp and 132 from the NPF, in order to avoid three-way run-offs.
Le Pen said RN’s victory had “merely been delayed”, adding that she “sees the seeds of tomorrow’s victory in today’s result”.
She also described Mr Macron’s position as “untenable”.
Jordan Bardella, president of National Rally, said: “We’ve been thrown into the arms of the extreme left and of Jean-Luc Melenchon.”
He said the coalitions formed in response to RN’s success in the first round had “paralysed” the French political system and Mr Macron had “pushed the country towards uncertainty and instability”.
“I know how many millions of French people must be frustrated,” he added.
Mr Macron’s office said: “The president, as guarantor of our institutions, will respect the choice of the French people.”
It also said he was analysing the results and waiting for the full picture to emerge.
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal – a member of Mr Macron’s Renaissance party – has said he will offer his resignation.
“Even though we had three times better results than being envisaged, it doesn’t mean that it’s a majority,” he said.
“So, faithful to the Republican tradition, I will actually withdraw tomorrow morning.”
France is now on course for a hung parliament, divided between three sizeable groups, unless the left can strike deals with other parties.
The NPF – just under a month old – is a broad left-wing electoral alliance.
It was launched on 10 June in response to Mr Macron calling the snap election.
It comprises La France Insoumise (France Unbowed), the Socialist Party, Les Ecologistes, the French Communist Party, Generations, Place Publique, and several other left-leaning parties and groups.
France Unbowed is the largest party in the NPF.
Although the NPF has no official leader, Mr Melenchon is widely thought to be the closest person to that.
It has been a volatile campaign, with more than 50 candidates reporting being physically attacked.
Over 30,000 police were deployed on voting day.