France's far-right is celebrating its best electoral performance in its history, getting the highest share of votes in the first round of parliamentary elections. National Rally leader Marine Le Pen has now urged voters to give her party an absolute majority in the second round next week.

Paris

France's far-right National Rally is celebrating a significant victory after securing the highest share of votes in the first round of parliamentary elections. Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally, has urged voters to support her party in the upcoming second round to achieve an absolute majority.

Le Pen emphasized the need for an absolute majority to bring about desired reforms and named John M. Bardella as a potential prime minister. Bardella has promised to prioritize issues such as purchasing power, law and order, and migration policy.

Opponents of the far-right, including a coalition of left and far-left parties led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, are working to prevent the National Rally from gaining an absolute majority. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal's centrist party is currently trailing after the first round, casting doubt on its ability to counter the far-right’s momentum.

President Emmanuel Macron had called a snap election following his party's loss to the National Rally in European elections, a gamble that may result in a hung parliament. Negotiations to form a coalition against the National Rally are ongoing across France, with hopes of replicating past successes of the so-called Republican front.



France's far right celebrates leading in first round of elections

Opponents of the far-right national rally wasted no time. After a historic election night, they got straight back to campaigning. The results are dramatic. We never saw the extreme right having so much vote in the population. It's like 12 million people voting for people that are racist, homophobic persons, that don't believe in climate change. Yes, vote against the national front, but vote for who? If we have a choice between two extremes, it's not a choice that motivates people. So what's the other solution? Unfortunately, I don't see it. National rally's leader Marine Le Pen urged her supporters to turn out like never before in order to win next week's second round. To begin this change in government and drive the reforms that the country needs, we need an absolute majority in order for John M. Bardella to be named in eight days prime minister by Emmanuel Macron. 28-year-old Bardella is the fresh face of the far-right national rally. The rebranded, once politically toxic national front is now mainstream, closer to power than it's ever been. I intend to be the prime minister for everyday life, the one who prioritizes defense of purchasing power. The restoration of law and order and security throughout the country. And of course, the resumption of our migration policy. Hoping to head off the far-right is a coalition of parties from the left and far-left. But its leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon is a polarizing figure who puts off some potential voters. And Prime Minister Gabriel Attal's centrist party, together the creation of President Emmanuel Macron, is trailing badly after the first round. The far-right is at the gates of power. Never has the National Assembly been at risk of being dominated by the far-rights. Therefore, our objective is clear, to prevent the national rally from having an absolute majority and to govern the country with a disastrous project which is its own. Macron called a snap election after his party's defeat to the national rally in European elections. A high-stakes gamble that could go against him. The best he can hope for now is a hung parliament. Waking up to the prospect of a first far-right government, political opponents are wasting no time. Negotiations to form a front against the national rally are in full swing in hundreds of constituencies all over France. President Macron is hoping that this so-called Republican front will be as successful as it was in the past. Others, though, are not so sure. Stab fast and Al Jazeera, Nice.

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