It's France's moment of truth. Here's how its snap elections work and what comes next
elections that could produce the country's first far-right government since the World War II Nazi occupation — or leave it with no majority emerging at all.
Marine Le Pen's anti-immigration, nationalist party National Rally stands a chance of winning a legislative majority for the first time, but the outcome remains uncertain because of a complex voting system and tactical maneuvers by political parties.
What's happening Sunday? Voters across France and overseas territories can cast ballots for 501 of the 577 seats in the National Assembly, the lower and most important of France's two houses of parliament. The other 76 races were won outright in the first round of voting.
The National Rally and its allies finished ahead in Round 1 with around one-third of the votes. A coalition of center-left, hard-left and greens parties called the New Popular Front came in second position, well ahead of President Emmanuel Macron's struggling centrist alliance.
In the frantic week between the two rounds, more than 200 centrist and left-wing candidates pulled out of races to boost the chances of their moderate rivals and try to keep National Rally candidates from winning.
Final preelection polls suggest that tactic may have diminished the far right's chances of an absolute majority. But Le Pen's party has wider and deeper support than ever before, and it's up to voters to decide.
What are the possible outcomes? Polling projections suggest the National Rally is likely to have the most seats in the next National Assembly — which
