Surprise Surge For Left Pushes French Far Right Into Third Place

Exit polls suggest no single group has won an absolute majority

- Angelique Chrisafis

A leftwing alliance was on track to become the biggest force in the French parliament last night after tactical voting held back the far right, but the shape of the future government remained uncertain after no group won an absolute majority.

The surprise result for the left which was projected to win up to 205 seats-showed the strength of tactical voting against Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN). President Emmanuel Macron's centrist alliance was projected to come second, with the far right in third.

RN and its allies had surged in the first round but were ultimately held back by massive tactical voting to prevent them winning enough seats to form a government.

Though the left alliance was slightly ahead, it was projected to be about 100 seats short of forming a government. Amid a high turnout estimated at about 67%, no single group was predicted to win an absolute majority of 289 seats. Parliament was likely to be divided into three main blocs: the left, centrists and the far right.

France now enters a period of unprecedented uncertainty over the shape of a future government. Macron has promised to remain as president, but he did not speak publicly last night, privately calling for people to be "prudent" until the final results are clear this morning.

It could now take weeks to establish a government. It is uncertain what shape of government will be leading France when the Olympics open in Paris in less than three weeks.