Emmanuel Macron’s coalition level with new leftwing group in French elections

Emmanuel Macron's centrist grouping was neck and neck with a new leftwing alliance led by the hard-left Jean-Luc Mélenchon in the vote share of the first round of parliamentary elections, according to early projections.

A frantic final week of campaigning will begin on Monday before the second round, as Macron's centrists still hope to edge ahead but face uncertainty over whether they can win a crucial majority of seats in parliament.

A historic alliance of parties on the left, led by Mélenchon's France Unbowed party and including the Socialists and the Greens, was slightly ahead on 25.6% - a strong showing which presents a challenge to Macron. The president's centrist alliance, Ensemble (Together), was projected to take 25.2% of the vote, according to estimations by Ipsos-Sopra Steria for France Télévisions.

Turnout on Sunday was estimated to have hit a record low of about 47%, according to polling firm projections, after candidates described the mood among voters as angry and disillusioned at the political class. Olivia Grégoire, the government spokesperson, said the low turnout was the "key issue".

Macron, who was re-elected president in April against the far-right's Marine Le Pen, needs a majority for his centrist grouping in the national assembly in order to have a free hand for his proposals to cut taxes and make changes to the welfare system.

The parliamentary results will set the balance of power for Macron's second term, defining his capacity to deliver domestic policies such as raising the retirement age and overhauling the benefits system.

Mélenchon's alliance - known as the Nupes, or the New Popular Ecological and Social Union - is seeking to increase its seats and reduce the number of Macron's centrists. The coalition's platform includes a significant minimum wage increase, lowering the retirement age to 60 and a freeze in basic food and energy prices to address the cost of living crisis.