France

Marine Le Pen celebrated the “rising tide” of populism in France, declaring that victory for her National Rally is “only postponed” after winning the most seats in the National Assembly in the history of her anti-mass migration party on Sunday.

Barring a surprise, which is still possible, today France may have its first elected ultra-right government led by Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (formerly National Front). The only other time that that brand of politics emerged as government in France was in the 1940s under Marshal Petain during the German occupation.

At a broader level, this would be the second time since the general election in the Weimar Republic in Germany in 1932 that an ultra-right party wins a straight parliamentary majority in a major European democracy.

Should we rush to join those on the ultra-left who are crying wolf about “fascism” seizing control of France?

I think not.

The Cher department in central France used to be a stronghold of the left.

During World War II, it was one of the heartlands of the French resistance fighters known as maquisards. France was at the time partly occupied by Nazi Germany, while the rest of the country was under the rule of French general Philippe Petain, whose Vichy government was collaborating with the Nazis.

Since the 1950s, several provincial towns of the Cher, such as Vierzon, even voted in the Communist Party.

Shops have been boarded up in cities across France as the country braces for possible violence in the aftermath of election results tonight.

In Paris, police warned local businesses along the busy retail strip of rue de Rivoli to secure their windows as anti-fascist protesters are expected to protest sweeping gains for Marine Le Pen’s party.

Polls opened today and results are expected late this evening, with reliable exit polls to be published at 7pm UK time.

Guardian Live Feed – French election 2024 live: Voting under way in seismic poll as far right aims to become dominant force in national assembly

BBC Live Feed – Turnout high in French election as far right seeks majority

At least 51 candidates and party activists have been attacked amid a climate of “great violence” during the campaign for France’s parliamentary elections, according to the French interior minister.

Gérald Darmanin, the interior minister, said he feared further disorder after Sunday’s second round, which polls say will leave the populist right National Rally as the biggest party but without an absolute majority.

It will be fixed so Macron remains in power.

Marine Le Pen’s populist right-wing National Rally has scored a historic victory in snap parliamentary elections in France, although the contest will proceed to a second vote next week.

The hard-right party is on course to win between 33 and 35 per cent of the vote in the first round, according to early results from the first polling booths to have closed.

Polling institutes put the left-wing New Popular Front on between 28 per cent and 30 per cent, with President Macron’s ruling centrist coalition trailing on about 22 per cent.

The young people of France helped Marine Le Pen and her National Rally party secure a huge victory in the first round of the French parliamentary elections.

They love her! 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/D85xqyy0QF

— Cillian (@CilComLFC) June 30, 2024

JUST IN: Protesters begins to gather as many anticipate riots amid Marine Le Pen’s resounding victory during France’s first round of Parliamentary elections.

Le Pen’s “National Rally,” a right-wing party, offering a populist and nationalist agenda, is closer than ever to taking… pic.twitter.com/sWTeTMSwKD

— Dutch Burke (@DutchBurke) June 30, 2024

The explosion in crime, insecurity, and immigration explain the trend, pollsters say.

With less than three days to go until the first round of the French parliamentary elections, two polling institutes are simultaneously predicting a possible absolute majority for the Rassemblement National (RN) in the National Assembly.

Since Emmanuel Macron announced the dissolution of the Assembly on June 9th, the Rassemblement National has been given the lead with more than 30% of the vote, but there is still uncertainty over the actual number of seats that Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella’s party could win. However, two independent estimates consider it entirely possible that the national Right party and its allies could pass the 289 MP mark required to obtain an absolute majority.

France is still in shock after President Macron unexpectedly dissolved parliament and called a general election. People were torn between stupor and anger, incredulity and panic.

Macron’s decision followed the European elections where the hard-right National Rally topped the polls with 31.4 per cent of the vote, and Macron’s party, on 14.6 per cent, was almost pushed into third place. If the polls are correct, the upcoming parliamentary elections might force Macron to appoint a National Rally prime minister.

PARIS (AP) – Water in the Seine River had unsafe elevated levels of E. coli less than two months before swimming competitions are scheduled to take place in it during the Paris Olympics, according to test results published Friday.

Contamination levels in the first eight days of June, after persistent heavy rain in Paris, showed bacteria such as E. coli and enterococci beyond limits judged safe for athletes.