UPDATE 2 - French president calls for unity against far-right in next round of snap polls

CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE

ADDS PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON’S REMARKS, EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Nur Asena Erturk

The French president on Sunday called for unity in the second round of the snap polls to counter the far-right surge.

“In the face of the National Rally (RN), it is time for a large rally clearly democrat and republican for the second round,” Emmanuel Macron said in a statement, according to media reports.

He also hailed the high turnout in today’s first round which “shows the importance of this poll for all our compatriots.”

- 'End of Macron’s bloc'

The far-right hailed a victory against Macron’s bloc after preliminary results of the snap elections.

Marine Le Pen, at a news conference, hailed the “end of Macron’s bloc” and said: “Democracy has spoken. The French have placed the National Rally (RN) and its allies on top and have practically erased the Macronist bloc.”

The former president of the RN also welcomed a high turnout that is estimated to surpass 65%, according to surveys.

Le Pen warned the citizens against “unjustified fear” and “invented threats” regarding the far-right, and vowed that no French would see a loss of their rights.

“We need an absolute majority,” she said and stressed the importance of the second round of the elections that will be held on July 7.

- Far-right leader calls for unity

Addressing a news conference, president of RN Jordan Bardella hailed the preliminary results.

He called for joining forces in the next round, warning against a left-wing victory, and promising that he would be the guardian of French citizens’ rights and freedom.

Bardella also vowed that he would be a prime minister of "cohabitation (coalition), respectful of the Constitution and the president's function, but uncompromising on the policy" that his party would implement.

- Left-wing leader hails Macron’s defeat

The leading figure of the left-wing alliance “New Popular Front,” Jean Luc-Melenchon, said at a news conference that these polls “inflicted a heavy and undeniable defeat” on President Macron.

He emphasized that his alliance will face “duels” in most places in the second round of the elections on July 7, and mostly against the RN.

“Nowhere will we allow the RN to overtake it… Our instruction is simple, direct, and clear. Not a vote, not one single more seat for the RN,” he said.

The RN got 34.2% of the votes, according to exit polls based on the surveying company Ifop’s estimations, the daily Le Figaro reported.

The “New Popular Front” gathering the left-wing parties received 29.1% and comes second for now, while the centrist alliance “Together for the Republic” backed by President Macron ranked third with 21.5% of votes.

A 12-hour-long voting process ended on Sunday where over 49 million registered voters cast their ballots in the snap parliamentary elections.

Polling stations opened at 8 a.m. (0600GMT) across the country.

Voters headed to the polling stations to elect 577 members of the National Assembly, the lower chamber of parliament, for a five-year term.

President Macron dissolved parliament and announced snap elections after the RN swept more than 31% of the vote in the European Parliament elections on June 9, defeating his centrist bloc.