Official announcements and reports from credible news sources

Marine Le Pen's National Rally Leads First Round of French Elections with 34% Votes, Record 59.4% Turnout

Jun 30, 2024, 03:01 PM

French voters participated in the first round of snap parliamentary elections on June 30, 2024, with a record turnout of 59.4% by 5 p.m. The far-right National Rally (RN) led by Marine Le Pen emerged as the frontrunner, securing approximately 34% of the votes, with some polls projecting RN to win 260-295 seats. This development marks a significant shift in French politics, as the RN is now closer to power than ever before. President Emmanuel Macron's centrist alliance, which called for the snap elections following a defeat in the European Parliament elections, garnered only about 20% of the votes, placing third behind the left-wing Popular Front alliance, which received around 28%. Macron's gamble with the snap elections appears to have backfired. The high turnout and the RN's strong showing indicate a potential historic win for the far-right in the upcoming second round of voting. The final outcome remains uncertain, as no party is expected to achieve an absolute majority, leading to a likely hung parliament.