The French are capable of making the right choice, says President Emmanuel Macron, who has called for new elections at home after a major setback in the European Championship.
The victorious nationalists' list leader – Marine Le Pen's crown prince – is aiming for the prime minister's post.
"I have full confidence in the French people's ability to make the right choice for themselves and future generations," Macron writes on social media.
"My only ambition is to be of use to our country, which I love so much."
Emmanuel Macron's liberal party alliance suffered a significant defeat in the European Championship, having lost support in several stages since the president came to power for the first time in 2017. He immediately called for new elections to the National Assembly in Paris.
The National Rally (RN) party became the clear winner of the election, with more than double the support of the liberals: over 31 per cent of the votes.
RN's top name on the European Championship ballot, Jordan Bardella, will not necessarily sit in the European Parliament. According to Sébastien Chenu, one of the party's vice presidents, the 28-year-old is the "obvious" choice if the nationalists get to appoint a prime minister after the parliamentary election.
If RN becomes large enough and gets to form a government, President Macron will be in what is called "cohabitation" in French politics, a forced coexistence. The President will remain in place, but would then have to try to cooperate with a government of a different party colour and largely different views for the rest of his term.
The parliamentary election takes place on 30 June. Voters will elect members to the National Assembly in single-member constituencies, and in the constituencies where a candidate does not win a sufficient majority in the first round, a decisive second round will be held on 7 July.
