ELECTIONS IN FRANCE Huge defeat for Le Pen, left-wing NFP won the most seats

France's left-wing coalition New Popular Front (NFP) wins the most seats in the second round of parliamentary elections and could achieve an unexpected victory ahead of the far-right National Rally (RN), according to leading polling agencies.

IFOP's estimate for TF1 television says NFP could win between 180 and 215 seats in parliament in the second round of voting, while Ipsos's poll for France TV projects 172 to 215 seats for the left-wing bloc.

Opinionway's poll for C News TV said the New Popular Front could win 180 to 210 seats, while Elabe's poll for BFM TV projected a range of 175-205 seats for them.

President Emmanuel Macron's centrist bloc was narrowly ahead of Marine Le Pen's RN party in the fight for second place, according to these polls.

An absolute majority in the National Assembly, the lower house of the French parliament, requires winning 289 seats.

The left-wing, and according to many, extreme Jean-Luc Mélenchon addressed supporters, stating that Emmanuel Macron should let the New Popular Front lead the government.

NFP is expected to take between 172-205 seats and should form a minority government in the National Assembly, with 289 seats needed for an absolute majority.

"The New Popular Front is ready to govern," said Melenchon.

"And after all, we are the only alternative that has a very organized program and a very detailed program. The elements of the left are united and have shown that they can handle this extraordinary historical situation. Once again, it saved the Republic, we saved the Republic," he says.

French President Emmanuel Macron is analyzing the exit poll and will wait for the final results before making the necessary next decisions, the French presidency says.

"The President, as guarantor of our institutions, will respect the choice of the French people," the statement added.

Macron will wait before making any decisions about a new government.