France faces parliament without absolute majority after surprising election results | World News

“We saved the Republic,” declared the leader of France Insoumise, Jordan Bardella, of the National Rally, who believes that the country has been “thrown into the arms of the extreme left.”

The National Rally came third in the second round of the French legislative elections, according to exit polls.

Marine Le Pen’s far-right party was tipped to become the dominant force in French politics after President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to call early elections.

But the left-wing New Popular Front (NPF) coalition is expected to win the largest number of seats (182) in the second round of legislative elections.

President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist group Ensemble is expected to win 163 seats, with the National Rally (RN) third on around 143 seats, according to BFM TV.

In fact: the last elections in France

After the RN came out on top in the first round, the centrist and left-wing parties agreed to withdraw 221 candidates, including 83 from President Macron’s camp and 132 from the NPF, in order to avoid a three-way vote.

Marine Le Pen said the RN’s victory had only been “delayed”, adding that she “saw in today’s result the seeds of tomorrow’s victory”.

She also called Mr Macron’s position “untenable”.

“We are being thrown into the arms of the far left and Jean-Luc Mélenchon,” declared Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally.

He said the coalitions formed in response to the RN’s first-round success had “paralyzed” the French political system and that Mr. Macron had “pushed the country towards uncertainty and instability.”

“I know how frustrated millions of French people must be,” he added.

Mr Macron’s office said: “The president, as guarantor of our institutions, will respect the choice of the French people.”

He also said he was analyzing the results and waiting to get the full picture.

Clashes were reported in Paris between protesters and riot police after the results.

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, a member of Mr Macron’s Renaissance party, said he would resign.

“Even though we had results three times better than expected, that doesn’t mean it’s a majority,” he said.

“So, true to Republican tradition, I will indeed step down tomorrow morning.”

France is now on its way to a parliament without an absolute majority, divided into three major groups, unless the left can reach agreements with other parties.

Learn more:
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What does the result mean and how a new government can be formed

The NPF, created just under a month ago, is a broad left-wing electoral alliance.

It was launched on June 10 in response to Mr Macron’s call for early elections.

It includes La France Insoumise, the Socialist Party, the Ecologists, the French Communist Party, Générations, Place Publique and several other left-wing parties and groups.

La France Insoumise is the largest party in the NPF.

Although the NPF has no official leader, Mr. Mélenchon is widely considered the person closest to it.

It was a volatile campaign, with More than 50 candidates report having been physically attacked.

More than 30,000 police officers were deployed on election day.