French far-right in strong position after first round of voting in election

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen called on voters to give the National Rally an “absolute majority” at parliament

French far right leader Marine Le Pen, center, with local mayor Steeve Briois, left, leave after voting in the first round of the parliamentary election, Sunday, June 30, 2024 in Henin-Beaumont, northern France. France is holding the first round of an early parliamentary election that could bring the country's first far-right government since Nazi occupation during World War II. The second round is on July 7, and the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

French voters propelled the far-right National Rally to a strong lead in first-round legislative elections on Sunday and plunged the country into political uncertainty, according to polling projections.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who called the surprise elections just three weeks ago, urged voters to rally against the far right in the second round of balloting.