Emmanuel Macron’s coalition level with new leftwing group in French elections

President's Ensemble alliance is projected to take 25.2% of the vote with Jean-Luc Melenchon's Nupes slightly ahead on 25.6%

Emmanuel Macron's centrist grouping was neck and neck with a new leftwing alliance led by the hard-left Jean-Luc Melenchon in the vote share of the first round of parliamentary elections.

A frantic final week of campaigning will begin on Monday before the second round, as Macron's centrists still hope to edge ahead but face uncertainty over whether they can win a crucial majority of seats in parliament.