Marine Le Pen poised to make gains in France’s regional elections

Sunday's poll could help far right step further towards political mainstream ahead of 2022 presidential elections

France is voting in the first round of regional elections that could see Marine Le Pens far-right party make gains and step further into the political mainstream.

In Sunday's election, new assemblies will be elected for mainland France's 13 regions and 96 departments, with Le Pen's National Rally (RN) tipped to win at least one region for the first time in what would be a major coup.