Five takeaways from the French elections – and what could happen next

It was a bad night for the president and a triumphant one for the far right. How long until a return to the polls?

Emmanuel Macron's alliance remains the largest force in France's parliament, but the president - comfortably re-elected eight weeks ago - lost his overall majority amid a strong electoral showing by a new leftist coalition and a historic far-right surge.

Here are five key takeaways from a shock legislative election that leaves the centrist leader needing to strike difficult deals with other parties to deliver his promised reforms - and that could yet plunge France into political chaos.