France’s fiercely anti-immigration National Rally and opponents of the far-right party are scrambling to capitalize on a first round of voting in high-stakes surprise legislative elections.
The official results of Sunday’s election showed that round one produced two likely scenarios in what promises to be a torrid last week of campaigning. The National Rally and its allies could secure a working majority in parliament in the final round next Sunday. Or they could fall short, stymied at the last hurdle by opponents.
People gather at Republique plaza to protest the National Rally, which came out strongly ahead in the first-round legislative elections.
The selection was curated by AP photo editor Anne-Marie Belgrave in London.
A voting assistant checks the voting card, right, and an identity card in Strasbourg, eastern France, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron stand in the voting station before voting in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, northern France, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (Yara Nardi, Pool via AP)
A woman votes in Strasbourg, eastern France, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
French far right leader Marine Le Pen, center, leaves after voting in the first round of the parliamentary election in Henin-Beaumont, northern France, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Manon Aubry, a member of the far-left France Insoumise (France Unbowed) party gestures shortly before the release of projections based on the actual vote count in select constituencies, in Paris, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)
Far-right National Rally party president Jordan Bardella arrives to vote in Garches, outside Paris, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron stand in the voting booth before voting in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, northern France, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (Yara Nardi, Pool via AP)
Voters wait at a polling station to vote in the first round of the French parliamentary election, in Lyon, central France, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal arrives to vote for the first round of parliamentary elections in Vanves, outside Paris, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)
President of the Green Party Marine Tondelier speaks at Republique square during a protest against the far-right National Rally party which came out strongly ahead in first-round legislative elections, in Paris, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)
Walter Sylvain reacts after voting in Soultz-Les-Bains, eastern France, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
A voter casts a ballot at a polling station for the first round of the parliamentary elections in Paris, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
French President Emmanuel Macron takes a selfie with supporters after voting in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, northern France, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (Yara Nardi, Pool via AP)
French far right leader Marine Le Pen blows a kiss after delivering her speech after the release of projections based on the actual vote count in select constituencies in Henin-Beaumont, northern France, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
A voter casts a ballot at a polling station for the first round of the parliamentary elections in Paris, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
Far left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon exits the voting booth before voting, in Paris, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)
French far right leader Marine Le Pen gestures after delivering her speech after the release of projections based on the actual vote count in select constituencies in Henin-Beaumont, northern France, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Supporters of French far right leader Marine Le Pen react after the release of projections based on the actual vote count in select constituencies in Henin-Beaumont, northern France, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
People gather at Republique Square to protest the far-right National Rally, which came out strongly ahead in first-round legislative elections, in Paris, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
French far right leader Marine Le Pen reacts as she meets supporters and journalists after the release of projections based on the actual vote count in select constituencies in Henin-Beaumont, northern France, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
People gather at Republique plaza to protest the far-right National Rally, which came out strongly ahead in first-round legislative elections, in Paris, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal delivers a speech in the courtyard of the Prime Minister’s residence, Sunday, June 30, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)
Local far-right mayor Steeve Briois, left, reacts after the release of projections based on the actual vote count in select constituencies, Sunday, June 30, 2024 in Henin-Beaumont, northern France. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
People gather at Republique plaza during a protest against the far-right National Rally party which came out strongly ahead in first-round legislative elections, Sunday, June 30, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)
People climb on the statue at Republique plaza during a protest against the far-right National Rally party which came out strongly ahead in first-round legislative elections, Sunday, June 30, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)
