by Jack Montgomery, The National Pulse:

The Ensemble bloc of globalist and progressive parties, centered on Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance party, came a distant third in the first round of the French legislative elections, behind Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) and the far-left New Popular Front coalition.

Ensemble is likely to fare a little better in the second round on July 7, with many far-left candidates stepping aside in districts where the Macronists have a better chance of defeating RN. However, a third-place finish for Ensemble is still highly likely, as is a first-place finish for the populists—with an outright legislative majority for Le Pen still possible.