France is bracing itself for a historic parliamentary election, as the latest poll suggests a surge in support for the far-right National Rally party. With the first round of the election scheduled for Sunday, the National Rally is predicted to secure between 260 and 295 seats, potentially leading the country towards its first far-right government since the era of Nazi occupation during World War II.

The Ifop Fiducial poll reveals that the National Rally has garnered around 36% of the vote, reflecting a growing wave of insecurity felt by many citizens. The Popular Front coalition, comprised of centrists, leftists, and Greens, stands at approximately 28% of the vote, while President Emmanuel Macron's center-right party trails behind with around 20% support.

To secure a parliamentary majority, at least 289 seats out of the 577 seats in the parliament are required. The National Rally's projected gains fall just below this threshold, but the polarization of French politics may make it challenging for any coalition to form if no party emerges as the outright winner.

The leader of the National Rally, 28-year-old Jordan Bardella, capitalized on these sentiments of insecurity during a recent televised debate. Referring to the state's perceived weakness, Bardella said, "Our compatriots have the feeling that the state no longer enforces its laws, that the state is weak with the strong and strong with the weak."

The impending election has heightened anticipation and raised turnout expectations. Some voters are determined to bring the far-right into power, while others are equally desperate to keep them out. President Macron, facing the likelihood of defeat for his party, will likely be forced to appoint a rival party member as the prime minister. Bardella stands as a potential candidate for this role, heralding a period of "cohabitation" in French politics.

During cohabitation, the prime minister, accountable to the parliament, leads the government and initiates legislation. However, the president maintains powers over foreign policy, European affairs, defense, and the country's armed forces. While the president can temporarily suspend the prime minister's projects, the latter can override such reluctance by submitting ordinances and decrees for a vote in the National Assembly.

Past cohabitations saw defense and foreign policies as the informal "reserved field" of the president, who typically sought compromises with the prime minister to present a united French voice on the global stage. However, the radically different views of both the far right and the leftist coalition pose a potential challenge to a harmonious cohabitation arrangement, particularly in these areas.

As France prepares for this crucial election, the electorate finds itself at a crossroads, with the far-right National Rally showing formidable strength. The outcome could signify a significant shift in the country's political landscape and set the stage for a challenging cohabitation period between the president and a prime minister from a rival party.