Macron's bid to block far-Right 'accessing highest office of state'

EMMANUEL Macron called a crisis meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris yesterday following victory for the far-Right opposition in the first round of parliamentary elections.

- Peter Allen

Marine Le Pen's National Rally (RN) got 33% of the vote on Sunday, compared with 22% for the President's Together (Ensemble) coalition.

He was also humiliated by a 28.5% vote for the New Popular Front an alliance of Leftist parties who put up a unity candidate in every constituency, in the hope of blocking the RN.

But Mr Macron told his ministers: "There must be no mistake about the fight. It is the far-Right which is on the verge of accessing the highest offices of state, and no one else."

Mr Macron also called on a "Republican Front" to "block the farRight", by voting for anyone except the RN. A deal hatched between his centrist group and Left-wing parties could halt the far-Right.

It will see them rallying round best-placed candidates in hundreds of constituencies with parties withdrawing their own nominees in districts where another person was better placed to beat the RN in next Sunday's run-off.