Voting Begins In French Snap Elections

The polling began at 8:00 am (0600 GMT/UTC), and the first projection of results are expected by 8:00 pm  (1800 GMT/UTC)

Around 49 million peoples are eligible to vote 

The election won't replace President Macron, who serves until 2027. He'll pick a prime minister from the majority party in the National Assembly

The New Popular Front, a left-wing and Green coalition, holds 149 seats. It formed after President Macron called for snap elections

Macron's Renaissance party, part of the Ensemble coalition, supports Ukraine against Russia and holds 250 seats

Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally, with 88 seats, is projected to gain the most this election. It's anti-immigration, anti-EU, and is known to have ties to Russia