BEIRUT (AP) — The Lebanese Hezbollah group said it launched over 200 rockets on Thursday at several military bases in Israel in retaliation for a strike that killed one of its senior commanders.
The attack by the Iran-backed militant group was one of the largest in the monthslong conflict along the Lebanon-Israel border, with tensions escalating in recent weeks.
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BEIRUT (AP) — The Lebanese Hezbollah group said it launched over 200 rockets on Thursday at several military bases in Israel in retaliation for a strike that killed one of its senior commanders.
Relatives of senior commander Mohammad Naameh Nasser, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike that hit his car in the southern costal town of Tyre, mourn during his funeral procession in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, July 4, 2024. The strike took place as global diplomatic efforts have intensified in recent weeks to prevent escalating clashes between Hezbollah and the Israeli military from spiralling into an all-out war that could possibly lead to a direct confrontation between Israel and Iran. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Hezbollah fighters carry the coffin of their comrade, senior commander Mohammad Naameh Nasser, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike that hit his car in the southern costal town of Tyre, during his funeral procession in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, July 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Hezbollah fighters carry the coffin of their comrade, senior commander Mohammad Naameh Nasser, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike that hit his car in the southern costal town of Tyre, during his funeral procession in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, July 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Hezbollah fighters carry the coffin of their comrade, senior commander Mohammad Naameh Nasser, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike that hit his car in the southern costal town of Tyre, during his funeral procession in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, July 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Relatives of senior commander Mohammad Naameh Nasser, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike that hit his car in the southern costal town of Tyre, mourn during his funeral procession in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, July 4, 2024. The strike took place as global diplomatic efforts have intensified in recent weeks to prevent escalating clashes between Hezbollah and the Israeli military from spiralling into an all-out war that could possibly lead to a direct confrontation between Israel and Iran. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Hezbollah fighters carry the coffin of their comrade, senior commander Mohammad Naameh Nasser, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike that hit his car in the southern costal town of Tyre, during his funeral procession in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, July 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Hezbollah fighters stand next to a poster of their comrade, senior commander Mohammad Naameh Nasser, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike that hit his car in the southern costal town of Tyre, during his funeral procession in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, July 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Hezbollah fighters carry the coffin of their comrade, senior commander Mohammad Naameh Nasser, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike that hit his car in the southern costal town of Tyre, during his funeral procession in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, July 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Firefighters work to extinguish a fire following an attack from Lebanese Hezbollah group, in an area in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, Thursday, July 4, 2024. The attack by the Iran-backed militant group on Thursday was one of the largest in the monthslong conflict along the Lebanon-Israel border, with tensions boiling in recent weeks. (AP Photo/Gil Eliyahu)
Hezbollah fighters carry the coffin of their comrade, senior commander Mohammad Naameh Nasser, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike that hit his car in the southern costal town of Tyre, during his funeral procession in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, July 4, 2024. The strike took place as global diplomatic efforts have intensified in recent weeks to prevent escalating clashes between Hezbollah and the Israeli military from spiralling into an all-out war that could possibly lead to a direct confrontation between Israel and Iran. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Hezbollah fighters attend the funeral procession of their comrade, senior commander Mohammad Naameh Nasser, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike that hit his car in the southern costal town of Tyre, in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, July 4, 2024. The strike took place as global diplomatic efforts have intensified in recent weeks to prevent escalating clashes between Hezbollah and the Israeli military from spiralling into an all-out war that could possibly lead to a direct confrontation between Israel and Iran. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
The Israeli military said "numerous projectiles and suspicious aerial targets" had entered its territory from Lebanon, many of which it said were intercepted. It confirmed the death of one soldier in the barrage.
It said about 200 “projectiles” were launched toward the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights and over 20 drones into Israeli territory, but that it had intercepted some of them.
After Hezbollah's attack, Israel struck various towns in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military said it hit Hezbollah’s “military structures” in the southern border towns of Ramyeh and Houla. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported that an Israeli drone strike of Houla killed at least one person. Israeli jets also broke the sound barrier over the Lebanese capital, Beirut, and other areas in the country.
Israel on Wednesday acknowledged that it had killed Mohammad Naameh Nasser, who headed one of Hezbollah's three regional divisions in southern Lebanon, a day earlier.
Hours after the killing, Hezbollah launched scores of Katyusha rockets and Falaq rockets with heavy warheads into northern Israel and the Golan. It launched more rockets on Thursday and said it had also sent exploding drones into several bases. Israel captured the Golan, a strategic plateau, from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war in a move that is recognized by the United States but otherwise rejected by the international community.
Hashem Safieddine, head of Hezbollah’s Executive Council, vowed that the group will continue its retaliatory attacks, “targeting new sites they never imagined would be hit.”
“The enemy sometimes acknowledges these hits and sometimes does not, but it is certain that there have been many casualties,” he said at Nasser's funeral.
Nasser was of great importance to Hezbollah, which said he took part in battles in conflicts in Syria and Iraq from 2011 until 2016 and fought in the group's last war with Israel in 2006. Two other senior Hezbollah commanders have also been killed.
The U.S. and France are continuing to scramble to prevent the skirmishes from spiraling into an all-out war, which they fear could spillover across the region. Washington in its shuttle diplomatic efforts initially hoped for calm along the Lebanon-Israel border in a deal that is not linked to the war in Gaza. However, since the U.S. has called for Hamas to agree to a cease-fire proposal presented by President Joe Biden, it has said that an end to the war in Gaza would lead to calm in Lebanon and northern Israel as well.
The relatively low-level conflict erupted shortly after the outbreak of the war in Gaza. Hezbollah says it is striking Israel in solidarity with Hamas, another Iran-allied group that ignited the war in Gaza with its Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel. The group's leadership says it will stop its attacks once there is a cease-fire in Gaza, and that while it does not want war, it is ready for one.
Israeli officials, meanwhile, say they could decide to go to war in Lebanon if efforts for a diplomatic solution fail.
Hezbollah's retaliation comes a day after a senior adviser to U.S. President Joe Biden, Amos Hochstein, met with French President Emmanuel Macron’s Lebanon envoy, Jean-Yves Le Drian, in Paris.
The fighting has displaced tens of thousands of people on both sides of the border. In northern Israel, 16 soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed. In Lebanon, more than 450 people — mostly fighters but also dozens of civilians — have been killed.
Israel sees Hezbollah as its most direct threat and estimates that it has an arsenal of 150,000 rockets and missiles, including precision-guided missiles.
In 2006, Israel and Hezbollah fought a monthlong war that ended in a draw.
Hezbollah fighters carry the coffin of their comrade, senior commander Mohammad Naameh Nasser, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike that hit his car in the southern costal town of Tyre, during his funeral procession in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, July 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Relatives of senior commander Mohammad Naameh Nasser, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike that hit his car in the southern costal town of Tyre, mourn during his funeral procession in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, July 4, 2024. The strike took place as global diplomatic efforts have intensified in recent weeks to prevent escalating clashes between Hezbollah and the Israeli military from spiralling into an all-out war that could possibly lead to a direct confrontation between Israel and Iran. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Hezbollah fighters carry the coffin of their comrade, senior commander Mohammad Naameh Nasser, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike that hit his car in the southern costal town of Tyre, during his funeral procession in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, July 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Hezbollah fighters carry the coffin of their comrade, senior commander Mohammad Naameh Nasser, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike that hit his car in the southern costal town of Tyre, during his funeral procession in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, July 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Hezbollah fighters carry the coffin of their comrade, senior commander Mohammad Naameh Nasser, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike that hit his car in the southern costal town of Tyre, during his funeral procession in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, July 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Relatives of senior commander Mohammad Naameh Nasser, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike that hit his car in the southern costal town of Tyre, mourn during his funeral procession in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, July 4, 2024. The strike took place as global diplomatic efforts have intensified in recent weeks to prevent escalating clashes between Hezbollah and the Israeli military from spiralling into an all-out war that could possibly lead to a direct confrontation between Israel and Iran. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Hezbollah fighters carry the coffin of their comrade, senior commander Mohammad Naameh Nasser, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike that hit his car in the southern costal town of Tyre, during his funeral procession in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, July 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Hezbollah fighters stand next to a poster of their comrade, senior commander Mohammad Naameh Nasser, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike that hit his car in the southern costal town of Tyre, during his funeral procession in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, July 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Hezbollah fighters carry the coffin of their comrade, senior commander Mohammad Naameh Nasser, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike that hit his car in the southern costal town of Tyre, during his funeral procession in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, July 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Firefighters work to extinguish a fire following an attack from Lebanese Hezbollah group, in an area in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, Thursday, July 4, 2024. The attack by the Iran-backed militant group on Thursday was one of the largest in the monthslong conflict along the Lebanon-Israel border, with tensions boiling in recent weeks. (AP Photo/Gil Eliyahu)
Hezbollah fighters carry the coffin of their comrade, senior commander Mohammad Naameh Nasser, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike that hit his car in the southern costal town of Tyre, during his funeral procession in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, July 4, 2024. The strike took place as global diplomatic efforts have intensified in recent weeks to prevent escalating clashes between Hezbollah and the Israeli military from spiralling into an all-out war that could possibly lead to a direct confrontation between Israel and Iran. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Hezbollah fighters attend the funeral procession of their comrade, senior commander Mohammad Naameh Nasser, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike that hit his car in the southern costal town of Tyre, in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, July 4, 2024. The strike took place as global diplomatic efforts have intensified in recent weeks to prevent escalating clashes between Hezbollah and the Israeli military from spiralling into an all-out war that could possibly lead to a direct confrontation between Israel and Iran. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
PARIS (AP) — Voting is underway in mainland France on Sunday in pivotal runoff elections that could hand a historic victory to Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally and its inward-looking, anti-immigrant vision — or produce a hung parliament and political deadlock.
French President Emmanuel Macron took a huge gamble in dissolving parliament and calling for the elections after his centrists were trounced in European elections on June 9.
The snap elections in this nuclear-armed nation will influence the war in Ukraine, global diplomacy and Europe’s economic stability, and they’re almost certain to undercut Macron for the remaining three years of his presidency.
The first round on June 30 saw the largest gains ever for the anti-immigration, nationalist National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen.
A bit over 49 million people are registered to vote in the elections, which will determine which party controls the 577-member National Assembly, France's influential lower house of parliament, and who will be prime minister. If support is further eroded for Macron’s weak centrist majority, he will be forced to share power with parties opposed to most of his pro-business, pro-European Union policies.
Voters at a Paris polling station were acutely aware of the the far-reaching consequences for France and beyond.
“The individual freedoms, tolerance and respect for others is what at stake today,” said Thomas Bertrand, a 45-year-old voter who works in advertising.
Racism and antisemitism have marred the electoral campaign, along with Russian cybercampaigns, and more than 50 candidates reported being physically attacked — highly unusual for France. The government is deploying 30,000 police on voting day.
The heightened tensions come while France is celebrating a very special summer: Paris is about to host exceptionally ambitious Olympic Games, the national soccer team reached the semifinal of the Euro 2024 championship, and the Tour de France is racing around the country alongside the Olympic torch.
As of noon local time, turnout was at 26.63%, according to France's Interior Ministry, slightly higher than the 25.90% reported at the same time during the first round last Sunday.
During the first round, the nearly 67% turnout was the highest since 1997, ending nearly three decades of deepening voter apathy for legislative elections and, for a growing number of French people, politics in general.
Macron cast his ballot in the seaside resort town of La Touquet, along with his wife Brigitte. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal voted earlier in the Paris suburb of Vanves.
Le Pen is not voting, because her district in northern France is not holding a second round after she won the seat outright last week. Across France, 76 other candidates secured seats in the first round, including 39 from her National Rally and 32 from the leftist New Popular Front alliance. Two candidates from Macron’s centrists list also won their seats in the first round.
The elections wrap up Sunday at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT) in mainland France and on the island of Corsica. Initial polling projections are expected Sunday night, with early official results expected late Sunday and early Monday.
Voters residing in the Americas and in France’s overseas territories of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyana and French Polynesia voted on Saturday.
The elections could leave France with its first far-right government since the Nazi occupation in World War II if the National Rally wins an absolute majority and its 28-year-old leader Jordan Bardella becomes prime minister. The party came out on top in the previous week's first-round voting, followed by a coalition of center-left, hard-left and Green parties, and Macron’s centrist alliance.
Pierre Lubin, a 45-year-old business manager, was worried about whether the elections would produce an effective government.
“This is a concern for us,” Lubin said. “Will it be a technical government or a coalition government made up of (various) political forces?”
The outcome remains highly uncertain. Polls between the two rounds suggest that the National Rally may win the most seats in the 577-seat National Assembly but fall short of the 289 seats needed for a majority. That would still make history, if a party with historic links to xenophobia and downplaying the Holocaust, and long seen as a pariah, becomes France’s biggest political force.
If it wins the majority, Macron would be forced to share power with a prime minister who deeply disagrees with the president's domestic and foreign policies, in an awkward arrangement known in France as “cohabitation."
Another possibility is that no party has a majority, resulting in a hung parliament. That could prompt Macron to pursue coalition negotiations with the center-left or name a technocratic government with no political affiliations.
No matter what happens, Macron’s centrist camp will be forced to share power. Many of his alliances' candidates lost in the first round or withdrew, meaning it doesn’t have enough people running to come anywhere close to the majority he had in 2017 when he was was first elected president, or the plurality he got in the 2022 legislative vote.
Both would be unprecedented for modern France, and make it more difficult for the European Union’s No. 2 economy to make bold decisions on arming Ukraine, reforming labor laws or reducing its huge deficit. Financial markets have been jittery since Macron surprised even his closest allies in June by announcing snap elections after the National Rally won the most seats for France in European Parliament elections.
Sitting in a deck chair along the Canal Saint-Martin in eastern Paris, Fernando Veloso said people are perplexed by the prospect of divided government.
“It’s going to bring confusion," the 67-year-old retiree said. "Will they be able to govern properly in a cohabitation government, with Macron still in power? It’s tricky.”
“Tensions are running high," Veloso added. “It’s worrying. Very worrying.”
Regardless of what happens, Macron said he won’t step down and will stay president until his term ends in 2027.
Many French voters, especially in small towns and rural areas, are frustrated with low incomes and a Paris political leadership seen as elitist and unconcerned with workers' day-to-day struggles. National Rally has connected with those voters, often by blaming immigration for France's problems, and has built up broad and deep support over the past decade.
Le Pen has softened many of the party's positions — she no longer calls for quitting NATO and the EU — to make it more electable. But the party’s core far-right values remain. It wants a referendum on whether being born in France is enough to merit citizenship, to curb rights of dual citizens, and give police more freedom to use weapons.
With the uncertain outcome looming over the high-stakes elections, Valerie Dodeman, 55-year-old legal expert said she is pessimistic about the future of France.
“No matter what happens, I think this election will leave people disgruntled on all sides," Dodeman said.
Surk reported from Nice, France. AP writer Alex Turnbell in Paris contributed to this report.
Follow AP’s global election coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/global-elections/
French people living in Switzerland arrive to cast their ballots for the second round of French legislative elections at the polling station "Palexpo" in Geneva, Switzerland, Sunday, July 7, 2024. (Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron makes a selfie for supporters after voting for the second round of the legislative elections in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, northern France, Sunday July 7 2024. Voting has begun in mainland France on Sunday in pivotal runoff elections that could hand a historic victory to Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally and its inward-looking, anti-immigrant vision — or produce a hung parliament and political deadlock. (Mohammed Badra, Pool via AP)
A woman casts her ballot during the second round of the legislative elections in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, northern France, Sunday July 7 2024. Voting has begun in mainland France on Sunday in pivotal runoff elections that could hand a historic victory to Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally and its inward-looking, anti-immigrant vision — or produce a hung parliament and political deadlock. (Mohammed Badra, Pool via AP)
Voters line up to cast their vote during the second round of the legislative elections, Sunday, July 7, 2024 in Paris. France votes Sunday in pivotal runoff elections that could hand a historic victory to Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally and its inward-looking, anti-immigrant vision — or produce a hung parliament and years of political deadlock. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
A woman picks up ballots at a polling station to vote in the second round of the legislative elections, in Lyon, central France, Sunday, July 7, 2024. France votes Sunday in pivotal runoff elections that could hand a historic victory to Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally and its inward-looking, anti-immigrant vision — or produce a hung parliament and years of political deadlock. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
A voter leaves a booth at a polling station after voting in the second round of the legislative elections, in Lyon, central France, Sunday, July 7, 2024. France votes Sunday in pivotal runoff elections that could hand a historic victory to Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally and its inward-looking, anti-immigrant vision — or produce a hung parliament and years of political deadlock. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron leave the voting booth before voting for the second round of the legislative elections in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, northern France, Sunday July 7 2024. Voting has begun in mainland France on Sunday in pivotal runoff elections that could hand a historic victory to Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally and its inward-looking, anti-immigrant vision — or produce a hung parliament and political deadlock. (Mohammed Badra, Pool via AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron leave the voting booth before voting for the second round of the legislative elections in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, northern France, Sunday July 7 2024. Voting has begun in mainland France on Sunday in pivotal runoff elections that could hand a historic victory to Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally and its inward-looking, anti-immigrant vision — or produce a hung parliament and political deadlock. (Mohammed Badra, Pool via AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron is seen during the second round of the legislative elections in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, northern France, Sunday July 7 2024. Voting has begun in mainland France on Sunday in pivotal runoff elections that could hand a historic victory to Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally and its inward-looking, anti-immigrant vision — or produce a hung parliament and political deadlock. (Mohammed Badra, Pool via AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron, right, votes for the second round of the legislative elections in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, northern France, Sunday July 7 2024. Voting has begun in mainland France on Sunday in pivotal runoff elections that could hand a historic victory to Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally and its inward-looking, anti-immigrant vision — or produce a hung parliament and political deadlock. (Mohammed Badra, Pool via AP)
A voter casts his ballot during the second round of the legislative elections, in Lyon, central France, Sunday, July 7, 2024. France votes Sunday in pivotal runoff elections that could hand a historic victory to Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally and its inward-looking, anti-immigrant vision — or produce a hung parliament and years of political deadlock. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
French President Emmanuel Macron, center, talks with Le Touquet mayor Daniel Fasquelle as he arrives to vote for the second round of the legislative elections in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, northern France, Sunday July 7 2024. Voting has begun in mainland France on Sunday in pivotal runoff elections that could hand a historic victory to Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally and its inward-looking, anti-immigrant vision — or produce a hung parliament and political deadlock. (Mohammed Badra, Pool via AP)
A woman votes for the second round of the legislative elections, Sunday, July 7, 2024 in Dorlisheim , eastern France. France votes Sunday in pivotal runoff elections that could hand a historic victory to Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally and its inward-looking, anti-immigrant vision — or produce a hung parliament and years of political deadlock. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
A voter stands in the polling booth during the second round of the legislative elections in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, northern France, Sunday July 7 2024. Voting has begun in mainland France on Sunday in pivotal runoff elections that could hand a historic victory to Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally and its inward-looking, anti-immigrant vision — or produce a hung parliament and political deadlock. (Mohammed Badra, Pool via AP)
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, leaves the polling booth before voting for the second round of the legislative election, Sunday, July 7, 2024 in Vanves, outside Paris. Voting has begun in mainland France on Sunday in pivotal runoff elections that could hand a historic victory to Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally and its inward-looking, anti-immigrant vision — or produce a hung parliament and years of political deadlock. (Alain Jocard, Pool via AP)
A couple walks past electoral posters showing far-right leaders Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella during second round of the legislative elections, Sunday, July 7, 2024 in Mittelschaeffolsheim , eastern France. France votes Sunday in pivotal runoff elections that could hand a historic victory to Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally and its inward-looking, anti-immigrant vision — or produce a hung parliament and years of political deadlock. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
Voters stand in the polling booth during the second round of the legislative elections, Sunday, July 7, 2024 in Paris. France votes Sunday in pivotal runoff elections that could hand a historic victory to Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally and its inward-looking, anti-immigrant vision — or produce a hung parliament and years of political deadlock. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
A couple leaves the voting station during the second round of the legislative elections, Sunday, July 7, 2024 in Olwisheim , eastern France. France votes Sunday in pivotal runoff elections that could hand a historic victory to Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally and its inward-looking, anti-immigrant vision — or produce a hung parliament and years of political deadlock. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
A voter leaves the voting booth before voting in the second round of the legislative elections, Sunday, July 7, 2024 in Strasbourg, eastern France. France votes Sunday in pivotal runoff elections that could hand a historic victory to Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally and its inward-looking, anti-immigrant vision — or produce a hung parliament and years of political deadlock. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
A voter takes ballots before voting in the second round of the legislative elections, Sunday, July 7, 2024 in Strasbourg, eastern France. France votes Sunday in pivotal runoff elections that could hand a historic victory to Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally and its inward-looking, anti-immigrant vision — or produce a hung parliament and years of political deadlock. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
A woman casts her ballot in the second round of the legislative elections, Sunday, July 7, 2024 in Strasbourg, eastern France. France votes Sunday in pivotal runoff elections that could hand a historic victory to Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally and its inward-looking, anti-immigrant vision — or produce a hung parliament and years of political deadlock. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
Local city officials prepare voting kits for the legislative election in Strasbourg, eastern France, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. Voters face a decisive choice in the runoff Sunday of snap parliamentary elections that could produce the country’s first far-right government since the World War II Nazi occupation. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
Local city officials prepare voting kits for the legislative election in Strasbourg, eastern France, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. Voters face a decisive choice in the runoff Sunday of snap parliamentary elections that could produce the country’s first far-right government since the World War II Nazi occupation. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
FILE - French President Emmanuel Macron reacts as he delivers a speech, Wednesday, June 12, 2024 in Paris. French President Emmanuel Macron's expected political failure in decisive parliamentary elections Sunday may paralyze the country, weaken him abroad and overshadow his legacy, just as France is about to be in the global spotlight as host of the Paris Olympics. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)
FILE - Far-right National Rally party president Jordan Bardella, right, leaves with far-right leader Marine Le Pen after a press conference, Monday, June 24, 2024 in Paris. Both Le Pen and Bardella have made clear that, in power, they would seek to rein-in Macron and exert themselves in defense, European and foreign affairs decision-making. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)
