Close Race Low Turnout Mark Parliamentary Election

Tough Times for France's National Rally

Close Race, Low Turnout Mark Parliamentary Election

Tough Times for France's National Rally

Leaders of Frances far-right National Rally tried to put a brave face on projected results from parliamentary elections on Sunday. The party, led by Marine Le Pen, had hoped to make significant gains in the vote, but early projections suggested that it would fall short of its ambitions.

With nearly all votes counted, the National Rally was projected to win around 20% of the vote, down from the 23% it won in the first round of voting last week. The party also lost several key seats, including those held by Le Pen and her deputy, Jordan Bardella.

The low turnout in the election was also a blow to the National Rally. Only 66.63% of registered voters cast ballots, down from 69.42% in the first round. This suggests that the party failed to mobilize its base and attract new voters.

The results of the parliamentary election are a major setback for the National Rally. The party had hoped to build on its success in the presidential election earlier this year, when Le Pen won 41.5% of the vote in the second round. However, the parliamentary election results suggest that the party has failed to translate its presidential success into parliamentary gains.

The results of the parliamentary election are also a blow to President Emmanuel Macron. Macron's centrist coalition lost dozens of seats in the vote, and he will now need to rely on the support of other parties to pass legislation.