02:17Voters in northern France's Henin-Beaumont shared their views on Sunday as former National Rally (RN) president Marine Le Pen visited the town to cast her ballot in the first round of the country's snap legislative election.
Footage shows Le Pen surrounded by journalists before entering the polling station and placing her vote. Meanwhile, locals voiced their support for RN while others said they have been 'disappointed' by President Emmanuel Macron's time in office.
"The ideas of the National Rally seem to me to be based a little more on the fact of being able to secure and restore a little order to the country," a resident said.
"Macron has had plenty of time to prove himself since coming to power, and nevertheless, he disappointed the French, but like many governments in his time, so people inevitably turn to something else," added a second.
Polling stations in France opened at 6:00 GMT and are scheduled to close at 16:00 GMT in small towns and cities, with a later deadline of 18:00 GMT in larger cities.
According to the French Ministry of the Interior, at noon local time (11:00 GMT), the turnout rate was up to 25.90 per cent compared with the 2022 election, which witnessed a turnout of 18.43 per cent.
According to a recent poll, Marine Le Pen's nationalist National Rally party and its conservative allies are leading the first round of the election with 35.5 per cent of the vote, followed by the New Popular Front (NPF) in second place with 29.5 per cent and Macron's Renaissance in third place with 19.5 per cent of the vote.
Emmanuel Macron called the snap legislative vote following huge losses for his Renaissance party in the EU Parliament elections, which saw a massive surge for Jordan Bardella's National Rally. The next election was not expected until 2027.
Across the bloc, conservative, nationalist and anti-immigration groups also made significant gains. Many called for a focus on domestic priorities amid the soaring cost of living, as well as lower taxes, better border security and an end to foreign military interventions, such as in Ukraine.
France's election is held over two rounds, on June 30 and July 7, electing all 577 members of the National Assembly. Macron has not held a majority in parliament since 2022 and has used executive powers to pass legislation like his pension reforms, which have seen massive protests.
'He disappointed the French' - National Rally supporters criticise Macron as Le Pen casts vote in Henin-Beaumont
Voters in northern France's Henin-Beaumont shared their views on Sunday as former National Rally (RN) president Marine Le Pen visited the town to cast her ballot in the first round of the country's snap legislative election.
Footage shows Le Pen surrounded by journalists before entering the polling station and placing her vote. Meanwhile, locals voiced their support for RN while others said they have been 'disappointed' by President Emmanuel Macron's time in office.
"The ideas of the National Rally seem to me to be based a little more on the fact of being able to secure and restore a little order to the country," a resident said.
"Macron has had plenty of time to prove himself since coming to power, and nevertheless, he disappointed the French, but like many governments in his time, so people inevitably turn to something else," added a second.
Polling stations in France opened at 6:00 GMT and are scheduled to close at 16:00 GMT in small towns and cities, with a later deadline of 18:00 GMT in larger cities.
According to the French Ministry of the Interior, at noon local time (11:00 GMT), the turnout rate was up to 25.90 per cent compared with the 2022 election, which witnessed a turnout of 18.43 per cent.
According to a recent poll, Marine Le Pen's nationalist National Rally party and its conservative allies are leading the first round of the election with 35.5 per cent of the vote, followed by the New Popular Front (NPF) in second place with 29.5 per cent and Macron's Renaissance in third place with 19.5 per cent of the vote.
Emmanuel Macron called the snap legislative vote following huge losses for his Renaissance party in the EU Parliament elections, which saw a massive surge for Jordan Bardella's National Rally. The next election was not expected until 2027.
Across the bloc, conservative, nationalist and anti-immigration groups also made significant gains. Many called for a focus on domestic priorities amid the soaring cost of living, as well as lower taxes, better border security and an end to foreign military interventions, such as in Ukraine.
France's election is held over two rounds, on June 30 and July 7, electing all 577 members of the National Assembly. Macron has not held a majority in parliament since 2022 and has used executive powers to pass legislation like his pension reforms, which have seen massive protests.
Voters in northern France's Henin-Beaumont shared their views on Sunday as former National Rally (RN) president Marine Le Pen visited the town to cast her ballot in the first round of the country's snap legislative election.
Footage shows Le Pen surrounded by journalists before entering the polling station and placing her vote. Meanwhile, locals voiced their support for RN while others said they have been 'disappointed' by President Emmanuel Macron's time in office.
"The ideas of the National Rally seem to me to be based a little more on the fact of being able to secure and restore a little order to the country," a resident said.
"Macron has had plenty of time to prove himself since coming to power, and nevertheless, he disappointed the French, but like many governments in his time, so people inevitably turn to something else," added a second.
Polling stations in France opened at 6:00 GMT and are scheduled to close at 16:00 GMT in small towns and cities, with a later deadline of 18:00 GMT in larger cities.
According to the French Ministry of the Interior, at noon local time (11:00 GMT), the turnout rate was up to 25.90 per cent compared with the 2022 election, which witnessed a turnout of 18.43 per cent.
According to a recent poll, Marine Le Pen's nationalist National Rally party and its conservative allies are leading the first round of the election with 35.5 per cent of the vote, followed by the New Popular Front (NPF) in second place with 29.5 per cent and Macron's Renaissance in third place with 19.5 per cent of the vote.
Emmanuel Macron called the snap legislative vote following huge losses for his Renaissance party in the EU Parliament elections, which saw a massive surge for Jordan Bardella's National Rally. The next election was not expected until 2027.
Across the bloc, conservative, nationalist and anti-immigration groups also made significant gains. Many called for a focus on domestic priorities amid the soaring cost of living, as well as lower taxes, better border security and an end to foreign military interventions, such as in Ukraine.
France's election is held over two rounds, on June 30 and July 7, electing all 577 members of the National Assembly. Macron has not held a majority in parliament since 2022 and has used executive powers to pass legislation like his pension reforms, which have seen massive protests.