Far right aims to capitalize on early wins

National Rally taps into voter frustration on inflation, incomes

- JOHN LEICESTER, SYLVIE CORBET AND BARBARA SURK

Marine Le Pen's National Rally party pledged to raise consumer spending power and slash immigration.The second round of voting takes place Sunday.

PARIS With the ultimate outcome still up in the air, France's fiercely anti-immigration National Rally and opponents of the longtaboo far-right party scrambled Monday to capitalize on an indecisive first round of voting in surprise legislative elections.

Round one on Sunday propelled the National Rally closer than ever to government but also left open the possibility that voters could yet block its path to power in the decisive round two. France now faces two likely scenarios in what promises to be a torrid last week of highstakes campaigning.

Strengthened by a surge of support that made it the round-one winner but not yet the overall victor, the National Rally and its allies could secure a working majority in parliament in the final round next Sunday.