French Election: Far-Right claim big victory in first round of voting | BBC News

Marine Le Pen’s far-Right National Rally party has won a major victory in the first round of French parliamentary elections.

Exit polls place the party on course to win around 34% of the vote, well ahead of their centre and left rivals.

The French President Emmanuel Macron political gamble in calling the snap election has spectacularly backfired. His Ensemble centrist alliance has suffered badly, expected to come third with around 20% of the vote. France’s left-wing coalition, the New Popular Front, had a stronger showing of around 28% according to the exit polls.

Celebrating her party's success, Marine Le Pen said "democracy has spoken" as she declared that President Emmanuel Macron's camp had been “practically wiped out”.

France now faces a second round of voting and the possibility of a far-Right government coming to power. However political rivals are already calling for an alliance against the National Rally. Left and centre party candidates who came third are expected to withdraw from the second round, in the hope of depriving Marine Le Pen’s party of power.

Clive Myrie presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Andrew Harding.

#BBCNews

[bwilliams]

Far Right, Far Right. Give it a rest. Why aren't you showing the Far Left riots going on in Paris tonight.

[kristinrutherford]

immigration is definitely the main issue in France

[AJK.]

Never heard british media say far left...

[darrylbradley]

Take your country back France. Ignore the "far right " rhetoric.

[Maasa_FIN]

BBC news reporting is just a joke these days

[alexbowman]

Either solve immigration or the country is finished.

[kirungirichard]

I rather be a far right than far wrong.

[gloriagehring]

Far right against far left propaganda is where we are now?

[MrMylesXD]

Bingo card of how many times the BBC can say far right in 3 minutes

[MeStevely]

Funny how the right are ALWAYS 'far'-right but the left are NEVER far-left. But that's the impartial BBC for you.

[chizzy]

must be painfull for the BBC to report hahahah

[dogpoofairy]

"Far right" lol. This from the extreme mega left BBC.

[filipushka]

LEFT PROTESTING ? Against what ? Democracy ? #EUROPE IS WAKING UP <3

[sophie.sienna]

I lived in Paris during the migrant crisis, a man was beheaded in the street where I worked. It's truly madness what they have done to France. Mass migration has failed and citizens want to feel safe in their countries again, and to put first. Thank GOD Marine Le Pen is doing well.

[Curryking]

They're not far right are they, stop being biased bbc

[seandelap]

Common sense is arriving across the continent

[pfgbam]

"it's only democracy if WE win"

[goodlookinouthomie]

Seriously BBC, are you STILL calling sensible centrists like Le Pen "far right"?
It's getting boring.

[Samhidesfrombullets]

Being “far right” now simply means not being a delusional lunatic. I’ll take that label any day.

[pinktfatrabbit]

Anyone who does not describe socialists and communists as far left cannot be helped.