THE LEFT coalition was preparing for power today after it scored a sensational victory in Sunday’s second round of voting for the French National Assembly.

The newly established New Popular Front coalition won 180 seats, ahead of President Emmanuel Macron’s business-centred Renaissance alliance, with more than 160 seats. 

Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (NR) were restricted to third place, although their more than 140 seats was still way ahead of the party’s previous best showing of 89 seats in 2022.