France election live: first-round results give far-right

Gabriel Attal urges tactical voting in second round to keep party from forming country’s first far-right government

Full report: National Rally in reach of being dominant French partyExplainer: what happens now?‘Not a solution’: fears grow over prospect of win for far-right in France

Marine Le Pen’s victory has been applauded by other far-right leaders in Europe. Santiago Abascal, who heads the far-right Vox party across the border in Spain, called it a “victory of hope, freedom and security for the French people”, while André Ventura, leader of Portugal’s Chega party, hailed “a great victory”, adding: “Europe is waking up! Soon, it will be Portugal!”

Matteo Salvini, Italy’s deputy prime minister and the leader of the far-right League party, accused Macron of undemocratic behaviour after the French president called for a united front to head off Le Pen’s National Rally in the second round.