Protests in Paris as far right wins first round of elections

On Sunday evening, thousands of people gathered at the Place de la République in Paris to express their opposition to the far right. Protests erupted after exit polls indicated that the far right had won the first round of the snap parliamentary elections.

Many thousands of people expressed their discontent by chanting slogans against the far-right National Rally (RN) and its leader, Jordan Bardella. At the Place de la République, they awaited the arrival of politicians from the left-wing New People's Front (NFP). This pre-election alliance brings together various groups, such as socialists, communists, Greens, and the far-left Unsubmissive France (LFI).

In recent weeks, the Place de la République has become a stage for regular protests organized by left-wing supporters, trade unions, and various social organizations.

Exit polls conducted by the Ipsos organization indicated that in the first round of Sunday's snap parliamentary elections in France, the National Rally (formerly Marine Le Pen's National Front) won about 33 percent of the vote. Meanwhile, the left-wing alliance, New People's Front, obtained about 28 percent support. The parties grouped around President Emmanuel Macron came in third, with a projected support level of 21 percent. The second round of elections will take place on July 7.