France is preparing for a pivotal parliamentary election on Sunday that could see the far-right National Rally (RN) make historic gains in modern times. With Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella leading the party, the RN is currently ahead in the polls, furthering their momentum after their victory in the recent European elections. President Emmanuel Macron, in response to RN's success, called for a national vote to address the rising popularity of the far right.

Anticipating a high turnout, over 2.6 million people out of France's 49 million voters have registered to cast their ballots by proxy. The election, which will be held in two rounds, will determine most of the National Assembly's 577 seats, with the final run-off vote scheduled for next Sunday.

The campaign, lasting a mere 20 days, has proved advantageous for the RN. During this time, the party amplified its focus on immigration, security, and tax cuts as a response to the cost-of-living crisis. Jordan Bardella, who aspires to become the RN's first prime minister, is confident that the party will secure outright victories in numerous constituencies during the first round. However, Bardella has specified that he would only accept the position if the RN secures an absolute parliamentary majority of 289 seats. Failure to do so would result in a hung parliament and potential deadlock.

With the release of the preliminary results on Sunday evening, parties opposing the National Rally will have to strategically choose their support in run-off battles across France. Their aim will be to prevent the RN from achieving an absolute majority. If the current polls are accurate, many of the run-offs will place the RN against the New Popular Front, a hastily-formed left-wing alliance that believes it could actually win the election.

In previous elections, parties from across the political spectrum united to keep the far right out of power, and voters reluctantly supported this strategy. However, RN's leaders have worked hard to distance themselves from their extremist image. In addition to advocating for French citizens to receive job and housing preferences, the party plans to reduce VAT on energy and exempt individuals under 30 from income tax.

Agnès, a teacher from Franconville, north of Paris, voices her concerns about the breakdown of discipline in schools. She supports Bardella's plans for stricter authority in education and states that she will vote either for the right or the far right, being attracted to Bardella's charisma. She also supports the RN's intention to eliminate the automatic French citizenship provision for children born to foreign parents who have lived in France for five years.

Meanwhile, President Macron's Ensemble alliance is anticipated to lose seats in the election, leading many to believe that Prime Minister Gabriel Attal's tenure may be nearing its end. Although polls suggest that Attal remains France's most popular politician, former President François Hollande has declared that "the Macron era is over" ahead of the vote. Hollande himself is running for parliament again, this time as a candidate for the New Popular Front.

Even Macron's allies are critical of his decision to call the snap election, citing the potential strain on security forces and the impending clashes following the second round. Macron is scheduled to meet with his prime minister and members of the government on Monday to discuss their next move. Until now, their stance has been a "ni-ni" approach, rejecting both the National Rally and the left-wing New Popular Front due to the involvement of France Unbowed (LFI), which is often criticized as being far-left and accused of harboring anti-Semitic members.

President Macron argues that only his Ensemble alliance can halt both the "extreme right and extreme left," asserting that the far right categorizes individuals by religion or origin while the left judges individuals by their community. Mathilde Panot, a prominent member of LFI, addressed supporters in Meaux, east of Paris, stating that their party is the only remaining force of resistance against the rise of the far right. She accused Macron's alliance of enabling the National Rally's ascent and criticized his "extreme liberalism."

The New Popular Front, which includes more moderate parties such as the Socialists and the Greens, has called for a unified stance to prevent Jordan Bardella from becoming prime minister. Various influential figures, including NBA player Victor Wembanyama, football captain Kylian Mbappé, and YouTube influencer Squeezie, have appealed to voters to reject extremism.

However, the deep divisions between the parties and the limited time available for concerted action pose challenges in their efforts to counter the National Rally's surge. Concerns and worries about the future of the country, like those expressed by Aurélie in Le Plessis Bouchard, are becoming more prevalent. Aurélie emphasizes the distinction between patriotism and nationalism, bringing into question the RN's nationalist policies.

As the French parliamentary election approaches, the political landscape of the country stands on the brink of change. The outcome of the election will determine the future trajectory of France as it grapples with the rise of the far right and the battle against extremism from both ends of the political spectrum.