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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Jon Henley in Paris

‘This could end up ugly’: after Macron’s gamble, will the far right seize power in France?

RN France Emmanuel Macron Marine Le Pen Jordan Bardella Mujtaba Rahman CHRISTIAN HARTMANN European Union
Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella are gaining momentum across France, but have not yet published a manifesto.
Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella are gaining momentum across France, but have not yet published a manifesto. Photograph: Christian Hartmann/Reuters

It is 8pm on Sunday 7 July. Polling stations have just closed after the second round of snap French parliamentary elections – the country’s most momentous ballot in living memory – and the first estimations flash up on the nation’s TV screens.

President Emmanuel Macron has lost his gamble. The National Rally (RN) of Marine Le Pen has more than trebled its tally of deputies in the assemblée nationale to just over 290: an absolute majority. France’s next government will be far right.

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