French National Rally wins big in first round of legislative election
Far-right party set to make significant gains in parliament
Emmanuel Macron's centrist party projected to lose seats
The National Rally party on Sunday won a crushing victory in the first round of voting for the French National Assembly, bringing its long-taboo status into the heart of French politics.
With nearly all of the votes counted, the party led by Marine Le Pen was projected to win between 50 and 60 seats in the 577-member lower house of parliament, up from just eight in the previous assembly.
The result is a major victory for the far-right party, which has been trying to shed its extremist image and broaden its appeal.
Emmanuel Macron's centrist party is projected to lose between 20 and 30 seats, leaving it with around 250 seats in the assembly.
The left-wing coalition Nupes is projected to win between 150 and 180 seats, becoming the second-largest group in parliament.
The election results are a major setback for Macron, who has been in power since 2017.
The second round of voting will be held on June 30, 2024.
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