France Braces for a Possible Far-Right Victory in Parliamentary Elections

The first round of the parliamentary elections in France has seen the far-right party Rassemblement National (RN), led by Marine Le Pen, emerge as the frontrunner with a significant lead. President Emmanuel Macron's centrist alliance has experienced a sharp decline in popularity, dropping to third place.

The potential victory of the far-right party has raised concerns about a broader wave of Euroscepticism in the EU and has sparked intense negotiations among various political factions to form alliances and prevent the far-right from gaining power.

The voter turnout in the elections has reached its highest figure in the last 25 years, indicating a significant interest and participation in the election process. The outcome of the second round remains uncertain, as it is unclear whether the far-right party can secure the necessary seats to form a government.

The European markets have reacted to the election results, with French markets rallying and the euro gaining strength as the chances of an absolute majority for the far-right diminish.