French voters turned out in numbers not seen in decades to stop the far-right National Rally from taking power in the French National Assembly. Polls predicted a first-place finish for National Rally, which instead came in third in initial results as polling stations closed.
Over two-thirds of registered voters cast a ballot in Sunday’s vote, up more than 20% from the last legislative vote. French President Emmanuel Macron called the snap election after the National Rally came in first in European elections a month ago. In dissolving parliament and calling for a vote widely described as a dangerous gamble, including overseas, he said it was time for “clarity.”
Marie-Caroline Le Pen, sister of far-right leader Marine Le Pen and former mother-in-law of National Rally leader Jordan Bardella, has been defeated in the northern constituency of Sarthe.
She was beaten by a candidate from the left-wing alliance New Popular Front, Élise Leboucher, according to data from the French interior ministry.
Le Pen, who was previously a regional counselor in the Greater Paris region, was parachuted into this constituency in the west of France.
