Far right wins big in first round of French election | First Thing

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Good morning.

After the first round of the French parliamentary elections, the far-right National Rally (RN) party and its allies won 33% of the national popular vote, the interior ministry has said.

What happens next? Should RN increase its 88 seats in parliament to a majority of 289 - something that is still seen as a steep challenge - it will be the first time in French history that a far-right party has won a parliamentary election and forms a government. In that scenario, President Emmanuel Macron - who called the snap poll three weeks ago after his party came a distant second to the RN in the European elections - would have to share power. If the RN wins the largest number of seats but falls short of a majority, Macron could then find himself with a hung parliament unable to govern the EU's second biggest economy and its top military power.

Has the RN's recent victories deepened division? RN has touted programs singling out groups such as dual nationals and those born and raised in France by foreign parents. In the past three weeks, rights groups have reported a rise in racist, homophobic and transphobic attacks.