Exit polls show France's far-right National Rally taking lead

People cast their votes at a polling station during the first round of the French parliamentary elections on the island of Tahiti in the third constituency of the French overseas territory of French Polynesia. Suliane Favennec/AFP/dpa

France's far-right National Rally is in the lead the first round of the snap parliamentary elections, according to first projections.

Together with its allies, the party gained 34% to 34.2% of the vote, broadcasters TF1 and France 2 reported on Sunday shortly after the polls closed.

President Emmanuel Macron's centrist Ensemble (Together) alliance came third with 20.3% to 21.5%, behind the left-wing alliance New Popular Front with 28.1% to 29.1%.

How many seats the blocs will get in the National Assembly will only be decided in run-off elections on July 7.