Far right wins first round in France election, run-off horsetrading begins

The New Popular Front (NFP), a hastily assembled left-wing coalition, was projected to win around 29% of the vote, the exit polls showed. The exit polls were in line with opinion surveys ahead of the election, and were met with jubilation by Le Pen's supporters. A longtime pariah for many in France, the RN is now closer to power than it has ever been. POSSIBLE PRIME MINISTERJordan Bardella, the 28-year-old RN party president, said he was ready to be prime minister - if his party wins an absolute majority. Exit polls in France have tended to be highly accurate.