The National Rally party leads the polling stations in France.

Emmanuel Macron is said to have wanted to call new elections for months, but preparations for the Paris Olympics are said to have stopped him.

But after the result of the EU elections, where the right-wing nationalist National Rally won 31.4 percent of the vote, and the Renaissance Party only 14.6 percent, it became clear. It was a new election after all.

Success for the national group

When the first election projections are presented, the right-wing National Rally leads with 34 percent of the vote, compared to 28.5 percent for the left-wing National Front coalition. The centrist coalition led by President Macron, “Together,” ranks third with 20.3 percent.

– I want to thank the French people, says party leader Jordan Bardella.

– I will become prime minister of all French people, but I will also listen to the opposition.

These are fairly expected numbers, given how the polls looked, but at the same time they are a historic result for the National Assembly which has never been larger.

Mélenchon: “We are the only option”

In a speech shortly after the forecasts were presented, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the far-left NFP coalition, declared that he saw himself as the only alternative in the fight against the National Assembly.

At the same time, he says the coalition will withdraw from districts where it comes in third place, all in order to defeat the far right.

– Our instructions are simple, direct and clear. He says there will not be one more vote, nor another speaker of the National Assembly.