France on tenterhooks after National Rally surge in first round elections

Dubai: Marine Le Pen’s National Rally dominated the first round of voting in France on Sunday, locking up 33.2% of the vote, according to interior ministry figures.

The New Popular Front got 28% and President Emmanuel Macron’s coalition 20.8%.

What happens next and what are Macron’s options? Here’s a look at the scenarios.

The outcomes could range from an RN-led government, a cohabitation period with Macron, or a hung parliament leading to political paralysis. The manoeuvring in the next few days will be critical in shaping the final result.

Elections for the 577 seats in the National Assembly are a two-round process. In constituencies where no candidate won outright in the first round, the top two candidates, along with any candidate receiving more than 12.5% of the registered voters, move to a second round. The candidate with the most votes in the second round wins the seat.

Jordan Bardella (RN): The 28-year-old leader of the RN and their candidate for prime minister. He has Italian roots and a working-class background.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon (LFI): A fiery orator and divisive figure on the left, Mélenchon leads the hard-left France Unbowed party.

Raphael Glucksmann (Socialist Party): Headed the Socialist list in the European elections and advocates for strong European support for Ukraine.

Laurent Berger (CFDT Trade Union): A former head of the CFDT trade union, seen as a potential unifying figure on the left but has expressed disinterest in being prime minister.

- With inputs from agencies