LAS VEGAS (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday dismissed the “punditry” criticizing President Joe Biden's halting and uneven debate performance, saying at a rally in Las Vegas that “this race will not be decided by one night in June.”
Speaking to an energetic crowd, Harris joined Biden’s push to quell Democratic anxiety by going on the attack against former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee. She framed the election as a binary choice “between someone who lies and someone who leads.”
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FILE - Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at Planned Parenthood, March. 14, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. Planned Parenthood will spend $40 million ahead of November's elections to bolster President Joe Biden and leading congressional Democrats. It will initially target eight states: Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Montana, New Hampshire and New York. (AP Photo/Adam Bettcher, File)
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday dismissed the “punditry” criticizing President Joe Biden's halting and uneven debate performance, saying at a rally in Las Vegas that “this race will not be decided by one night in June.”
Supporters wait for Vice President Kamala Harris to speak at a post Presidential debate campaign rally, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)
Vice President Kamala Harris takes the stage prior to speaking at a post debate campaign rally, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)
Vice President Kamala Harris takes the stage prior to speaking at a post debate campaign rally, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)
Vice President Kamala Harris greets supporters after speaking at a post debate campaign rally, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a post debate campaign rally, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)
U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., speaks prior to Vice President Kamala Harris' arrival at a post debate campaign rally, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a post debate campaign rally, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)
Traffic streaks past signage supporting President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris outside the Stronger Hope Church in Jackson, Miss., Thursday, June 27, 2024, prior to Biden's televised debate with former President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Harris acknowledges Biden had a 'slow start' in debate and tries to calm Democratic fears
FILE - Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at Planned Parenthood, March. 14, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. Planned Parenthood will spend $40 million ahead of November's elections to bolster President Joe Biden and leading congressional Democrats. It will initially target eight states: Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Montana, New Hampshire and New York. (AP Photo/Adam Bettcher, File)
Harris acknowledges Biden had a 'slow start' in debate and tries to calm Democratic fears
“In a real leader, character matters more than style,” Harris said. “And Donald Trump simply does not have the character to be president of the United States.”
As she acknowledged Biden’s uneven performance, Harris emphasized the substance of Trump’s remarks during the 90-minute debate, including his refusal to condemn the rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as well as his unwillingness to emphatically commit to accepting the results of this November’s election.
“Last night clarified the stakes of this election," Harris said.
Her event in Las Vegas and her television interviews after Biden's debate were apparent efforts to calm Democratic panic. Hours earlier in Raleigh, North Carolina, Biden appeared to acknowledge the criticism of his performance, saying ”I don’t debate as well as I used to.”
Harris spoke for 11 minutes at a Las Vegas community center at an event geared toward Latino voters, a crucial voting bloc in the battleground state of Nevada.
A Biden campaign staffer followed a New York Times reporter as he interviewed voters and shut down interviews when they turned negative, the newspaper reported. Nobody from the campaign followed or interfered with an Associated Press reporter speaking to voters.
Harris said the contrast between Biden and Trump ultimately has to be on Biden’s performance in office, rather than in one debate.
“I see Joe Biden when the cameras are on and when the cameras are off,” Harris said. “I in the Oval Office negotiating bipartisan deals. I see him in the Situation Room keeping our country safe. On the world stage, meeting with world leaders who often ask for his advice.”
Polls from CNN and 538/Ipsos conducted soon after the debate found that most debate-watchers thought Trump outperformed Biden. But the two men’s favorability ratings remained largely unchanged, just as they did in the aftermath of Trump’s conviction.
Harris gave interviews Thursday night on CNN and MSNBC amid immediate Democratic panic over Biden’s performance, which fueled longstanding questions about whether the 81-year-old president should step aside.
“It was a slow start. That’s obvious to everyone. I’m not going to debate that point," Harris said in an interview on CNN following the debate. “I'm talking about the choice for November. I’m talking about one of the most important elections in our collective lifetime.”
Before Harris arrived in Las Vegas, a group of women waiting to get inside agreed that Biden’s debate performance was lacking but believed he could recover.
“We had faux pas on either side, but Biden-Harris is clearly the way to go,” Tina Allen-Major, 50, a Las Vegas electrician said as a Mariachi band played nearby. “We have to continue to protect our democracy, we have to work for what’s best for our future.”
Biden wasn’t the first incumbent president to stumble in their first debate, and a “slow start” is no reason to cast him aside, said Sharon Tillis, 71, of Henderson, Nevada, a data collector for government policymakers.
“When you’re with someone, you stand with them solidly,” Tillis said.
Former President Barack Obama and Trump both received low marks for their first debates in 2012 and 2020, when they were running as incumbents. Neither candidate's performance led to the type of panic that Biden’s performance triggered among some Democrats.
Brandon Colbert, a 42-year-old Teamsters convention worker in Las Vegas, said Biden's performance was “concerning” but he believes Biden can do the job and doesn't think it's realistic to talk about replacing Biden as the Democratic nominee.
“Who’s going to step in at this point?” Colbert said. “I mean, the train is running. We got who we got. This is what we’re going with. I still pick him over Trump.”
Associated Press writer Seung Min Kim reported from Washington.
Leslie S. West is photographed by Deanna Waters before Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a post Presidential debate campaign rally, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)
Supporters wait for Vice President Kamala Harris to speak at a post Presidential debate campaign rally, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)
Vice President Kamala Harris takes the stage prior to speaking at a post debate campaign rally, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)
Vice President Kamala Harris takes the stage prior to speaking at a post debate campaign rally, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)
Vice President Kamala Harris greets supporters after speaking at a post debate campaign rally, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a post debate campaign rally, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)
U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., speaks prior to Vice President Kamala Harris' arrival at a post debate campaign rally, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a post debate campaign rally, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)
Traffic streaks past signage supporting President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris outside the Stronger Hope Church in Jackson, Miss., Thursday, June 27, 2024, prior to Biden's televised debate with former President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Harris acknowledges Biden had a 'slow start' in debate and tries to calm Democratic fears
FILE - Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at Planned Parenthood, March. 14, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. Planned Parenthood will spend $40 million ahead of November's elections to bolster President Joe Biden and leading congressional Democrats. It will initially target eight states: Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Montana, New Hampshire and New York. (AP Photo/Adam Bettcher, File)
Harris acknowledges Biden had a 'slow start' in debate and tries to calm Democratic fears
PARIS (AP) — Voters across mainland France cast ballots Sunday in the first round of early parliamentary elections that could put the government in the hands of nationalist, far-right parties for the first time since the Nazi era.
The two-round elections that wrap up July 7 could impact European financial markets, Western support for Ukraine and the management of France’s nuclear arsenal and global military force.
Many French voters are frustrated about inflation and other economic concerns, as well as President Emmanuel Macron’s leadership, seen as arrogant and out-of-touch with their lives. Marine Le Pen’s anti-immigration National Rally party has tapped that discontent, notably via online platforms like TikTok, and led in preelection opinion polls.
A new coalition on the left, the New Popular Front, also poses a challenge to the pro-business Macron and his centrist alliance Together for the Republic. It includes the French Socialists and Communists, the greens and the hard-left France Unbowed party and vows to reverse an unpopular pension reform law that raised the retirement age to 64, among other economic reforms.
There are 49.5 million registered voters who will choose the 577 members of the National Assembly, France's influential lower house of parliament.
Turnout at midday Sunday stood at 25.9% according to interior ministry figures, higher than the 18.43% at midday during 2022 legislative elections. The vote was taking place during the traditional first week of summer vacation in France, and absentee ballot requests were at least five times higher than in 2022.
The first polling projections were expected at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT), when final polling stations close. Early official results were expected later Sunday.
Macron voted in Le Touquet, a seaside resort in northern France. Le Pen also voted in the north, her party’s stronghold, but in the working-class town of Hennin-Beaumont.
Voters in Paris had issues from immigration to the rising cost of living on their minds as the country has grown more divided between the far right and far left blocs, with a deeply unpopular and weakened president in the political center. The campaign was marred by rising hate speech.
“People don't like what has been happening,” said Cynthia Justine, 44. “People feel they've lost a lot in recent years. People are angry. I am angry.” She added that with “the rising hate speech,” it was necessary to express frustrations with those holding and seeking power.
She said it was important as a woman to vote since women haven't always had that right. And “because I am a Black woman, it's even more important. A lot is at stake on this day.”
Macron called the early elections after his party was trounced in the European Parliament election earlier in June by the National Rally, which has historic ties to racism and antisemitism and is hostile toward France’s Muslim community. It also has historical ties to Russia.
Macron's call was an audacious gamble that French voters who were complacent about the European election would be jolted into turning out for moderate forces in national elections to keep the far right out of power.
Instead, preelection polls suggested that the National Rally is gaining support and has a chance at winning a parliamentary majority. In that scenario, Macron would be expected to name 28-year-old National Rally President Jordan Bardella as prime minister in an awkward power-sharing system known as “cohabitation.”
While Macron has said he won’t step down before his presidential term expires in 2027, cohabitation would weaken him at home and on the world stage.
A 64-year-old voter, Philippe Lempereur, expressed fatigue with politicians from the left, right and center and what he called their inability to work together on issues like ensuring people have shelter and enough to eat. “We vote by default, for the least worse option,” he said. “I prefer to vote than do nothing.”
The results of the first round will give a picture of voter sentiment, but not necessarily of the overall makeup of the next National Assembly. Predictions are difficult because of the complicated voting system, and because parties will work between the rounds to make alliances in some constituencies or pull out of others.
In the past, such maneuvers helped keep far-right candidates from power. But support for Le Pen's party has spread deep and wide.
Bardella, who has no governing experience, says he would use the powers of prime minister to stop Macron from continuing to supply long-range weapons to Ukraine for the war with Russia.
The National Rally has also questioned the right to citizenship for people born in France, and wants to curtail the rights of French citizens with dual nationality. Critics say this undermines human rights and is a threat to France's democratic ideals.
Meanwhile, huge public spending promises by the National Rally and especially the left-wing coalition have shaken markets and ignited worries about France's heavy debt, already criticized by EU watchdogs.
In the restive French Pacific territory of New Caledonia, polls closed earlier due to a curfew that authorities have extended until July 8. Violence there flared last month leaving nine people dead, due to attempts by Macron’s government to amend the French Constitution and change voting lists, which the Indigenous Kanaks feared would further marginalize them. They have long sought to break free from France.
Voters in France’s other overseas territories of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyana and French Polynesia and those voting in offices opened by embassies and consular posts across the Americas cast their ballots on Saturday.
Surk contributed from Nice, France. Diane Jeantet contributed from Lens, France.
An earlier version corrected to say Macron voted in Le Touquet instead of Paris.
Follow AP's coverage of elections at https://apnews.com/hub/global-elections
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron leave the voting booth before voting in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, northern France, Sunday, June 30, 2024. France is holding the first round of an early parliamentary election that could bring the country's first far-right government since Nazi occupation during World War II. The second round is on July 7, and the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain (Yara Nardi, Pool via AP)
Far left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon exits the voting booth before voting, Sunday, June 30, 2024 in Paris. France is holding the first round of an early parliamentary election that could bring the country's first far-right government since Nazi occupation during World War II. The second round is on July 7, and the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)
Voters at a polling station in the first round of the French parliamentary elections in Paris, Sunday, June 30, 2024. Voters across mainland France are casting ballots in the first round of an exceptional parliamentary election. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
A voter casts their ballot at a polling station for the first round of the parliamentary elections in Paris, Sunday, June 30, 2024. Voters across mainland France are casting ballots in the first round of an exceptional parliamentary election. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
People stand in voting booths at a polling station for the first round of the parliamentary elections in Paris, Sunday June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
French President Emmanuel Macron takes a selfie with supporters after voting in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, northern France, Sunday, June 30, 2024. France is holding the first round of an early parliamentary election that could bring the country's first far-right government since Nazi occupation during World War II. The second round is on July 7, and the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain (Yara Nardi, Pool via AP)
A voter leaves a booth at a pooling station to vote in the first round of the French parliamentary election, in Lyon, central France, Sunday, June 30, 2024. Voters across mainland France are casting ballots in the first round of an exceptional parliamentary election. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron enter the voting booth before voting in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, northern France, Sunday, June 30, 2024. France is holding the first round of an early parliamentary election that could bring the country's first far-right government since Nazi occupation during World War II. The second round is on July 7, and the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain (Yara Nardi, Pool via AP)
Two people ride a bicycle in front of an electoral panel in Rennes, western France, Sunday June 30, 2024.France is holding the first round of an early parliamentary election on Sunday that could bring the country's first far-right government since Nazi occupation during World War II.The second round is on July 7, and the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain. (AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez)
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron leave the voting booth before voting in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, northern France, Sunday, June 30, 2024. France is holding the first round of an early parliamentary election that could bring the country's first far-right government since Nazi occupation during World War II. The second round is on July 7, and the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain (Yara Nardi, Pool via AP)
People queue to vote in Strasbourg, eastern France, Sunday, June 30, 2024. Voters across mainland France began casting ballots Sunday in the first round of exceptional parliamentary election that could put France's government in the hands of nationalist, far-right parties for the first time since the Nazi era. The outcome of the two-round election, which will wrap up July 7, could impact European financial markets, Western support for Ukraine and how France's nuclear arsenal and global military force are managed. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
A voter arrives at a polling station to vote in the first round of the French parliamentary election, in Lyon, central France, Sunday, June 30, 2024. Voters across mainland France are casting ballots in the first round of an exceptional parliamentary election. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
Voters wait at a polling station to vote in the first round of the French parliamentary election, in Lyon, central France, Sunday, June 30, 2024. Voters across mainland France are casting ballots in the first round of an exceptional parliamentary election. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
A voter casts a ballot at a polling station for the first round of the parliamentary elections in Paris, Sunday June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
A voter casts a ballot at a polling station for the first round of the parliamentary elections in Paris, Sunday June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
A voter casts a ballot at a polling station for the first round of the parliamentary elections in Paris, Sunday June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
A voter casts his ballot in the first round of the legislative election in Vanves, outside Paris, Sunday, June 30, 2024. France is holding the first round of an early parliamentary election that could bring the country's first far-right government since Nazi occupation during World War II. The second round is on July 7, and the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)
Voters wait at a polling station to vote in the first round of the French parliamentary election, in Lyon, central France, Sunday, June 30, 2024. Voters across mainland France are casting ballots in the first round of an exceptional parliamentary election. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal shakes hands to a resident after voting for the first round of parliamentary elections in Vanves, outside Paris, Sunday, June 30, 2024. France is holding the first round of an early parliamentary election that could bring the country's first far-right government since Nazi occupation during World War II. The second round is on July 7, and the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal casts his vote in the first round of parliamentary elections in Vanves, outside Paris, Sunday, June 30, 2024. France is holding the first round of an early parliamentary election that could bring the country's first far-right government since Nazi occupation during World War II. The second round is on July 7, and the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain. (Arnaud Finistre, Pool via AP)
Far-right National Rally party president Jordan Bardella arrives to vote Sunday, June 30, 2024 in Garches, outside Paris. Voters across mainland France began casting ballots in the first round of an exceptional parliamentary election that could put France's government in the hands of nationalist, far-right parties for the first time since the Nazi era. The outcome of the two-round election, which will wrap up July 7, could impact European financial markets, Western support for Ukraine, and how France's nuclear arsenal and global military force are managed. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
A voter stands in the voting booth during the first round of the legislative election in Vanves, outside Paris, Sunday, June 30, 2024. France is holding the first round of an early parliamentary election that could bring the country's first far-right government since Nazi occupation during World War II. The second round is on July 7, and the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)
French far right leader Marine Le Pen casts her ballot for the first round of the parliamentary election, Sunday, June 30, 2024 in Henin-Beaumont, northern France. France is holding the first round of an early parliamentary election that could bring the country's first far-right government since Nazi occupation during World War II. The second round is on July 7, and the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
French far right leader Marine Le Pen casts her ballot for the first round of the parliamentary election, Sunday, June 30, 2024 in Henin-Beaumont, northern France. France is holding the first round of an early parliamentary election that could bring the country's first far-right government since Nazi occupation during World War II. The second round is on July 7, and the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
French far right leader Marine Le Pen arrives to vote, Sunday, June 30, 2024 in Henin-Beaumont, northern France. France is holding the first round of an early parliamentary election that could bring the country's first far-right government since Nazi occupation during World War II. The second round is on July 7, and the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
French far right leader Marine Le Pen, center, leaves after voting in the first round of the parliamentary election, Sunday, June 30, 2024 in Henin-Beaumont, northern France. France is holding the first round of an early parliamentary election that could bring the country's first far-right government since Nazi occupation during World War II. The second round is on July 7, and the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
French far right leader Marine Le Pen, center, with local mayor Steeve Briois, left, leave after voting in the first round of the parliamentary election, Sunday, June 30, 2024 in Henin-Beaumont, northern France. France is holding the first round of an early parliamentary election that could bring the country's first far-right government since Nazi occupation during World War II. The second round is on July 7, and the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal prepares to cast his ballot in the first round of parliamentary elections in Vanves, outside Paris, Sunday, June 30, 2024. France is holding the first round of an early parliamentary election that could bring the country's first far-right government since Nazi occupation during World War II. The second round is on July 7, and the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain. (Arnaud Finistre, Pool via AP)
Elderly people talk at the voting station Sunday, June 30, 2024 in Henin-Beaumont, northern France. France is holding the first round of an early parliamentary election that could bring the country's first far-right government since Nazi occupation during World War II. The second round is on July 7, and the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
French far right leader Marine Le Pen arrives to vote, Sunday, June 30, 2024 in Henin-Beaumont, northern France. France is holding the first round of an early parliamentary election that could bring the country's first far-right government since Nazi occupation during World War II. The second round is on July 7, and the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
French far right leader Marine Le Pen leaves after voting in the first round of the parliamentary election, Sunday, June 30, 2024 in Henin-Beaumont, northern France. France is holding the first round of an early parliamentary election that could bring the country's first far-right government since Nazi occupation during World War II. The second round is on July 7, and the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
French far right leader Marine Le Pen, right, casts her ballot for the first round of the parliamentary election, Sunday, June 30, 2024 in Henin-Beaumont, northern France. France is holding the first round of an early parliamentary election that could bring the country's first far-right government since Nazi occupation during World War II. The second round is on July 7, and the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
French President Emmanuel Macron kisses a man's head as he arrives at a polling station to to vote in the first round of the early French parliamentary elections, in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, northern France, Sunday, June 30, 2024. France is holding the first round of an early parliamentary election that could bring the country's first far-right government since Nazi occupation during World War II. The second round is on July 7, and the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain (Yara Nardi, Pool via AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron gestures as he arrives at a polling station to to vote in the first round of the early French parliamentary elections, in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, northern France, Sunday, June 30, 2024. France is holding the first round of an early parliamentary election that could bring the country's first far-right government since Nazi occupation during World War II. The second round is on July 7, and the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain (Yara Nardi, Pool via AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron greets residents as he arrives at a polling station to to vote in the first round of the early French parliamentary elections, in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, northern France, Sunday, June 30, 2024. France is holding the first round of an early parliamentary election that could bring the country's first far-right government since Nazi occupation during World War II. The second round is on July 7, and the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain (Yara Nardi, Pool via AP)
A person adjusts voting envelopes in Strasbourg, eastern France, Sunday, June 30, 2024. France is holding the first round of an early parliamentary election on Sunday that could bring the country's first far-right government since Nazi occupation during World War II. The second round is on July 7, and the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
A person votes in Strasbourg, eastern France, Sunday, June 30, 2024. France is holding the first round of an early parliamentary election on Sunday that could bring the country's first far-right government since Nazi occupation during World War II. The second round is on July 7, and the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
A woman votes in Strasbourg, eastern France, Sunday, June 30, 2024. France is holding the first round of an early parliamentary election on Sunday that could bring the country's first far-right government since Nazi occupation during World War II. The second round is on July 7, and the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
French President Emmanuel Macron greets residents as he arrives at a polling station to to vote in the first round of the early French parliamentary elections, in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, northern France, Sunday, June 30, 2024. France is holding the first round of an early parliamentary election that could bring the country's first far-right government since Nazi occupation during World War II. The second round is on July 7, and the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain (Yara Nardi, Pool via AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron, right, casts his ballot to vote in the first round of the early French parliamentary election, in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, northern France, Sunday, June 30, 2024. France is holding the first round of an early parliamentary election that could bring the country's first far-right government since Nazi occupation during World War II. The second round is on July 7, and the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain (Yara Nardi, Pool via AP)
Far-right National Rally party president Jordan Bardella poses for a selfie after voting Sunday, June 30, 2024 in Garches, outside Paris. Voters across mainland France began casting ballots in the first round of an exceptional parliamentary election that could put France's government in the hands of nationalist, far-right parties for the first time since the Nazi era. The outcome of the two-round election, which will wrap up July 7, could impact European financial markets, Western support for Ukraine, and how France's nuclear arsenal and global military force are managed. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
French President Emmanuel Macron, right, casts his ballot to vote in the first round of the early French parliamentary election, in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, northern France, Sunday, June 30, 2024. France is holding the first round of an early parliamentary election that could bring the country's first far-right government since Nazi occupation during World War II. The second round is on July 7, and the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain (Yara Nardi, Pool via AP)
French far right leader Marine Le Pen arrives to vote, Sunday, June 30, 2024 in Henin-Beaumont, northern France. France is holding the first round of an early parliamentary election that could bring the country's first far-right government since Nazi occupation during World War II. The second round is on July 7, and the outcome of the vote remains highly uncertain. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
A woman walks past campaign boards for the upcoming parliamentary elections in Paris, Thursday June 27, 2024. Voters will choose lawmakers for the National Assembly in two rounds on June 30 and July 7. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
People gather on the Republique Plaza during a rally in Paris, Thursday June 27, 2024. Anti-racism groups joined French unions and left-wing coalition in protests against the surging nationalist far right as French President Emmanuel Macron called snap elections following the defeat of his centrist alliance at European Union elections earlier this month. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
FILE - Jordan Bardella, president of the far-right National Front party, arrives at the Eurosatory Defense and security exhibition, Wednesday, June 19, 2024 in Villepinte, north of Paris. The perspective of a defeat in parliamentary elections mean he may have to share power with a prime minister from rival political party — that could possibly be far-right National Rally's president Jordan Bardella. Macron defeated twice the National Rally's leader Marine Le Pen in the presidential election, both in 2017 and 2022.( AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)
FILE - French President Emmanuel Macron, right, meets French far-right Rassemblement National (National Rally) leader Marine Le Pen at the Elysee Palace on June 21, 2022 in Paris. The perspective of a defeat in parliamentary elections mean he may have to share power with a prime minister from rival political party — that could possibly be far-right National Rally's president Jordan Bardella. Macron defeated twice the National Rally's leader Marine Le Pen in the presidential election, both in 2017 and 2022. (Ludovic Marin/Pool photo via AP, File)
