Emmanuel Macron crisis as Marine Le Pen surges ahead in French election first round
Emmanuel Macron's National Rally centrist alliance has suffered massive losses according to early projections.
Emmanuel Macron is in danger of seeing the far right sweep to power in the French parliament after Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (NR) surged ahead in the first round of the snap French legislative election.
The NR is on course to win more than a third (34 percent) of today's vote, according to the Ipsos polling institute, according to Politico.
But French President Mr Macron's centrist alliance - Together for the Republic - has suffered a massive slump at the pols, coming just third with only 20.3 percent of the vote.
An alliance of left-wing parties, the New Popular Front, has experienced a strong showing on 28.1 percent.
The estimates based on the latest exit poll are forecasting Le Pen's party to win 230-280 seats in the 577-seat French assembly, with the left ling alliance with 125-165 seatss and Mr Macron's coalition ending up with just 70-100 seats.
The blow could see the National Rally take control of the French Parliament for the first time.
Mr Macron, who called the surprise elections just three weeks ago following far-right gains in the European elections, urged voters to rally against the far right in the second round of balloting.
Le Pen called on voters to give the National Rally an “absolute majority” at parliament.
A second round of voting will take place on July 7 which will confirm the result.
The results of the first round will give a picture of voter sentiment, but not necessarily of the overall makeup of the next National Assembly.
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Predictions are difficult because of the complicated voting system, and because parties will work between the rounds to make alliances in some constituencies or pull out of others.
The final result could see National Raly's Jordan Bardella, a 28-year-old, become the Prime Minister of France.
Mr Macron has previously vowed to see out his full second term as President, with the next presidential election scheduled in 2027.
While Mr Macron has said he will not step down before his term expires, cohabitation would weaken him at home and on the world stage.
