France’s National Rally party (RN) came third in the first round of legislative elections on Sunday. Ahead in 108 of the 577 constituencies, the party’s performance gives weight to leader Marine Le Pen’s hopes to form a parliamentary group for the first time since 1986.
RN won 18.68 percent of the vote in the first round, well behind the left-wing Nupes alliance (25.66 percent) and the presidential majority Ensemble (Together) on 25.75 percent.