![French election first round: key points 1 French far right leader Marine Le Pen delivers her speech after the release of projections based on the actual vote count in select constituencies on Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Hénin-Beaumont, northern France.](https://img.lemde.fr/2024/06/30/0/0/8192/5464/664/0/75/0/c776d48_67fe47afa9cd46d4bfbd6b470cc469f6-0-ea2e0541230947aa9d3ab02bc524a574.jpg)
France’s far right made significant gains in the first round of pivotal legislative elections on June 30, with President Emmanuel Macron’s camp trailing behind. The left-wing Nouveau Front Populaire alliance secured second place, setting the stage for the upcoming second round on July 7.
- Far right almost doubles its 2022 score
The far-right Rassemblement National and its allies garnered 33.5% of the votes, nearly doubling their score from the 2022 elections. This surge brings Marine Le Pen’s party closer to attaining power as they broke the 20% barrier for the first time.
- Macron comes in third, loses gamble
President Emmanuel Macron’s coalition ranked third with 20.3%, as the left-wing Nouveau Front Populaire secured 28.1%. Macron’s defeat in this election marked a bitter failure in his political strategy.
As voters prepare for the second round, strategic alliances and voter instructions to block the far right will play a crucial role in shaping the Assemblée Nationale in France.
With the French facing polarizing choices, voter turnout surged to 65.8% compared to 47.5% in the previous parliamentary elections.