The Latest | Polls are open in France’s early legislative election

France celebrates the first round of a early parliamentary elections on Sunday that could bring the country the first far-right government since the Nazi occupation during World War II.

The second round will take place on July 7 and the outcome of the vote remains very uncertain.

Three large political blocs are competing: the national far-right demonstration, President Emmanuel Macron centrist alliance and New Popular Front coalition that includes center-left, green and far-left forces. The French system is complex and not proportional to national support for a party.

Faced with the far-right’s landslide victory in European Parliament elections earlier this month, Macron called an early vote in France because he feared the results would otherwise lead to paralysis in the legislature.

National Rally chairman Jordan Bardella said if he became prime minister he would They oppose the sending of French troops to Ukraine – a possibility that Macron has not ruled out. Bardella also said that he would reject French deliveries of long-range missiles and other weapons capable of attacking targets within Russia itself.

At the moment:

— France faces an election like no other. Is that how it works and what comes next

— Macron weakened at home and abroad as early French elections give impetus to the far right

— In high-stakes French legislative elections, a The Jewish candidate faces and fights against hatred and division

—French far-right leader Bardella seeks to reassure votersEU partners in economic and foreign policy

— French Prime Minister seeks to get out of Macron’s shadow in the next early elections

Here’s the latest:

Voters across France have begun casting their ballots in the first round of an early legislative election in which far-right forces could take control of the government, or no majority emerges.

Polling stations opened in mainland France at 8am on Sunday (0600 GMT). The first electoral projections are expected at 8:00 p.m. (6:00 p.m. GMT), when the final polling stations close, and the first official results on Sunday night.

The result of the two-round elections could affect European financial markets, Western support for Ukraine and how France nuclear arsenal and global military force are managed.