Three weeks ago, French president Emmanuel Macron stunned and bewildered French voters, and his own Government, by calling a snap general election. By Monday morning of this week, it appeared the president’s gamble had backfired.

Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally led in the first round of these high stakes elections, taking 33 per cent of the popular vote. It was followed by the leftwing New Popular Front, which secured 28 per cent, while Mr Macron’s ruling centrist Together bloc trailed in third place with just 20 per cent.

The clear takeaway from this first round of voting is the National Rally party, currently led by 28-year-old Jordan Bardella, is now the dominant political force in France.

Is Le Pen’s anti-immigrant, Eurosceptic party on course to secure an absolute majority in France’s National Assembly?

Or could Mr Macron’s calls for voters to join together and prevent National Rally from taking control change the course of these elections?

Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by John Casey.

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