Far Right Leads in France's Exceptionally High-Stakes Election

Paris: French voters around world are casting ballots Sunday in first round of an exceptional parliamentary election that could put France's government in hands of nationalist, far-right forces for first time since Nazi era.

outcome of two-round election, which will wrap up July 7, could impact European financial markets, Western support for Ukraine and how France's nuclear arsenal and global military force are managed.

Many French voters are frustrated about inflation and economic concerns, as well as President Emmanuel Macron's leership, which y see as arrogant and out-of-touch with ir lives. Marine Le Pen's anti-immigration National Rally party has tapped and fueled that discontent, notably via online platforms like TikTok, and dominated all preelection opinion polls.

A new coalition on left, New Popular Front, is also posing a challenge to pro-business Macron and his centrist alliance Toger for Republic.

After a blitz campaign marred by rising hate speech, voting began early in France's overseas territories, and polling stations open in mainland France at 8 a.m. (0600 GMT) Sunday. first polling projections are expected at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT), when final polling stations close, and early official results are expected later Sunday night.

Macron called early election after his party was trounced in European Parliament election earlier in June by National Rally, which has historic ties to racism and antisemitism and is hostile toward France's Muslim community. It was an audacious gamble that French voters who were complacent about European Union election would be jolted into turning out for moderate forces in a national election to keep far right out of power.

Inste, polls suggest that National Rally is gaining support and has a chance at winning a parliamentary majority. In that scenario, Macron would be expected to name 28-year-old National Rally President Jordan Bardella as prime minister in an awkward power-sharing system known as "cohabitation." While Macron has said he won't step down before his presidential term expires in 2027, cohabitation would weaken him at home and on world stage.

results of first round will give a picture of overall voter sentiment, but not necessarily of overall makeup of next National Assembly. Predictions are extremely difficult because of complicated voting system, and because parties will work between two rounds to make alliances in some constituencies or pull out of ors.

In past, such tactical maneuvers helped keep far-right candidates from power. But now, support for Le Pen's party has spre deep and wide.

Bardella, who has no governing experience, says he would use powers of prime minister to stop Macron from continuing to supply long-range weapons to Ukraine for war with Russia. His party has historical ties to Russia.

party has also questioned right to citizenship for people born in France, and wants to curtail rights of French citizens with dual nationality. Critics say this undermines fundamental human rights and is a threat to France's democratic ideals.

Meanwhile, huge public spending promises by National Rally and especially left-wing coalition have shaken markets and ignited worries about France's heavy debt, alrey criticized by EU watchdogs.