Far-right NR party leads French parliamentary elections

The far-right National Rally Party is leading France's Sunday snap parliamentary elections with 34 percent of the votes, according to preliminary election results. The leftist New Popular Front made a strong showing and came second with 28.5 percent of the votes. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron's centrist Together Presidential Majority alliance incurred heavy losses coming third with 20.3 percent of the votes. According to these results, the NR is expected to get 260-310 seats in the 577-seat national assembly, the left wing alliance 115-145 seats and Macron's coalition 90-120. Commenting on the results, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal urged voters not to give the far-right National Rally party "a single vote" in the second round of voting on July 7. "The far right is at the gates of power," Attal said, warning that the party risked winning an absolute majority (289 seats). "Our objective is clear: to prevent the RN from getting elected in the second round." In a surprise move, President Macron dissolved the National Assembly and called for snap legislative elections on June 9 after the far-right National Rally significantly outperformed his centrist alliance in the European elections. Source: Kuwait News Agency