Shops are boarded up amid fears of left-wing riots as far-right National Rally wins first round of snap French election

Cities across France are once again set to burn, as militant activists take to the streets to violently protest the results of the first round of the snap election, which saw the far-right National Rally party soar ahead in the polls. 

Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN) won the first round of legislative elections on Sunday, leaving incumbent president Emmanuel Macron's centrist alliance lagging in a distant third behind the left, projections by polling groups said overnight.

The projections gave the RN 34% of the vote, compared to 29.1% for the left-wing New Popular Front alliance, and just 22% for Macron's centrist camp.

Many French voters are frustrated about inflation and other economic concerns, as well as Macron's leadership, seen as arrogant and out-of-touch with their lives. The National Rally party has tapped that discontent, notably via online platforms such as TikTok. 

But the political frustration with the state of France's economy, and the country's role on the world stage, was matched by furious marchers, who have already begun destroying their own cities. 

Paris in particular has already seen crowds of people set flares off, smash shop windows in and light fires across the history city, which will host the Olympics in just 25 days. 

Barricades designed to keep crowds controlled were set alight, while countless protesters climbed up the Place de la Republique, the home of the iconic statue showing the personification of France, Marianne. 

Bins were overturned and set alight, spreading acrid smoke into the air. 

Young women trying to enjoy nights out in the city were forced to stand behind armoured cops, who fended off activists.  

Violence in Paris was so bad that riot police were forced to set off tear gas, while firefighters were called in to douse the blazes set by protestors. 

Le Pen, the daughter of the party's racist and anti-Semitic father Jean-Marie, said Macron's alliance was 'almost wiped out' during the first round of voting. 

The first round of this year's election, called by Macron after a devastating loss in the European Parliament elections earlier this month, saw record levels of turnout. 

Polls suggested 67.5% of people votes in the national election, the highest participation in a regular format legislative election in France since 1981. The final turnout in 2022, the last time national elections were held in the nation, was just 47.5%.

Despite the win, it is still not currently clear whether Le Pen's party would win an absolute majority of seats in the new National Assembly lower house in the July 7 second round and claim the post of prime minister. 

The second round will see run-off votes take place in seats where there was no absolute majority, allowing the final shape of the National Assembly to form. 

The vote could give 28-year-old RN party chief Jordan Bardella, a protege of its longtime leader Marine Le Pen, the chance to form a government, making it the first time the far-right takes the reins of power in France since the Nazi occupation during WWII. 

The last far-right leaders of France were Philippe Pétai and his prime minister, Pierre Laval, who headed the Vichy regime that collaborated with the Nazis during World War II.