FRANCE went to the polls today in pivotal run off elections that could hand a historic victory to Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (NR), or produce a hung parliament.

French President Emmanuel Macron gambled in dissolving parliament and calling for the elections after his neoliberal alliance lost heavily in European elections on June 9.

The snap elections will now almost certainly undercut Mr Macron for the remaining three years of his presidency, with France Unbowed leader Jean-Luc Melenchon saying he should resign and call presidential elections if the parliamentary vote produces deadlock.