The Far right Rassemblement National (RN) party has won the first round of France’s snap parliamentary elections, according to first exit polls released immediately after polling booths closed.
Per a poll released by France’s TF1 network, RN has taken 34.5 % of the votes, with the left wing New Popular Front (NPF) alliance trailing behind with 28.5% and President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist Ensemble bloc out of the second with 22.5%.
The French are voting for the 577 members of the country’s general assembly, or parliament. A second round of voting will take place on July 7 in the many seats where there is no clear majority, with the winner then being the candidate with the most votes.
Although the RN now looks set to have the largest number seats in parliament, on the basis of the first round of voting, it is not yet on course for an absolute majority.
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