studio: the french prime minister gabriel attal giving his reaction to what has been quite a historic parliamentary election in france, if those exit polls are correct because at the moment they suggest marine lieutenant�*s hard right national rally party has taken the biggest share of the vote in the first round of france's parliamentary elections. these are the exit polls thus far, but if they do indicate that this is indeed marine le pen's hard right national rally party taking the biggest share of the vote in the first round, it is indeed a historic result. let's cross live to paris were my colleague is monitoring this. we havejust monitoring this. we have just heard gabriel attal give his first reaction to those exit polls. indeed and let me — reaction to those exit polls. indeed and let me give _ reaction to those exit polls. indeed and let me give you _ reaction to those exit polls. indeed and let me give you a _ reaction to those exit polls. indeed and let me give you a flavour- reaction to those exit polls. indeed and let me give you a flavour of. and let me give you a flavour of what he had to say because he has just spoken in the last few minutes and he said france must stop the far right, the national rally from an absolute majority in the next round of the elections in a week's time because the way that the electoral system works is if no candidate gets above 50% in the first round today it goes to a second round run—off. there is now going to be intense horse training between who came second and third, the left and president macron�*s centrist coalition as to whether any of them dropped out and rally behind the candidate who could stop the far right in next sunday's second round of elections. gabriel attal saying we must stop the national rally from absolute majority next sunday. 289 seats in france's assembly. it is a moral duty to stop the worst from happening, he said. this will harm our country and we must support candidates who defend france's republican values. a clear call from gabriel attal to rally behind the candidate who can stop a far right victory. that shows you the depth of turmoil france is now in after emmanuel macron took that gamble, many would see a reckless gamble, a grossness calculation possibly, to halt a snap parliamentary election that the far right have one in this first round. they have come out on top and then president macron trailing in third place. many go to a second round. first of all jubilation in the far right national rally. marine le pen, the de facto head of the party who will be running for the presidential election we expect in 2027, she spoke to her crowd of supporters as the exit polls came through. translation: the people of france have demonstrated unequivocally in this vote they desire to turn a page after seven years of the exercise of contemptuous corrosive power. we thank the voters won the and welcomed the result is the first step towards demonstrating a sign of confidence _ step towards demonstrating a sign of confidence in us, which is an honour and an_ confidence in us, which is an honour and an obligation. a confidence in us, which is an honour and an obligation.— and an obligation. a lot of confidence _ and an obligation. a lot of confidence from _ and an obligation. a lot of confidence from marine i and an obligation. a lot of| confidence from marine le and an obligation. a lot of- confidence from marine le pen who will be hoping 28—year—old jordan bardella, the president of the national rally, who is candidate for prime minister, secures an absolute majority next sunday. he said he will only become prime minister if there is an absolute majority, he will not accept elite fans of the is a hung parliament. we will have to see what happens next sunday but this is uncharted territory for france. many people will be furious at president macron for pointing this country into political chaos with this early election. it comes to and a half years earlier than it should have been. president macron has not made a statement publicly, but wrote a statement in which he has said... that is a call from president macron from eight united front to stop the rally, we will have to see if people heed that warning. we will have to see if they vote for the far right... that warning was not heeded by vultures today. let's unpick that by vultures today. let's unpick that by the time being. —— voters today. thank you for being with us. let me start, where does this leave france and president macron tonight? france is not any clear— and president macron tonight? france is not any clear position _ and president macron tonight? france is not any clear position and _ and president macron tonight? france is not any clear position and it - and president macron tonight? france is not any clear position and it was - is not any clear position and it was yesterday— is not any clear position and it was yesterday and it leaves president macron— yesterday and it leaves president macron in— yesterday and it leaves president macron in a position in which he is more _ macron in a position in which he is more isolated, he has less power and his gamble. _ more isolated, he has less power and his gamble, some would call it, his heeled _ his gamble, some would call it, his heeled mary had backfired. basically without_ heeled mary had backfired. basically without a _ heeled mary had backfired. basically without a parliament, what matters most _ without a parliament, what matters most is _ without a parliament, what matters most is next week, who is going to -et most is next week, who is going to gel to— most is next week, who is going to gel to 289~ — most is next week, who is going to get to 289. that is the trade—off being _ get to 289. that is the trade—off being made now, who withdraws and who stands — being made now, who withdraws and who stands. who is most well—placed to be a _ who stands. who is most well—placed to be a stop _ who stands. who is most well—placed to be a stop to the rise of national rally. _ to be a stop to the rise of national rally. and — to be a stop to the rise of national rally, and emmanuel macron seems almost, _ rally, and emmanuel macron seems almost, as— rally, and emmanuel macron seems almost, as he rightfully said, he has not — almost, as he rightfully said, he has not been heard or seen, and what we have _ has not been heard or seen, and what we have heard tonight is his own prime _ we have heard tonight is his own prime minister is calling for a prime minister is calling fora clearer— prime minister is calling for a clearer vote than even president macron— clearer vote than even president macron does. we are wondering who is actually— macron does. we are wondering who is actually now— macron does. we are wondering who is actually now in charge of this government and how many allies he still has _ government and how many allies he still has. ~ ., , . ., ., , still has. who is in charge of this government _ still has. who is in charge of this government and _ still has. who is in charge of this government and who _ still has. who is in charge of this government and who is - still has. who is in charge of this government and who is in - still has. who is in charge of this| government and who is in charge still has. who is in charge of this i government and who is in charge of france, a big question for france's allies, for europe and the global order. where does this leave france on the global stage? it is order. where does this leave france on the global stage?— on the global stage? it is difficult for our partners _ on the global stage? it is difficult for our partners who _ on the global stage? it is difficult for our partners who have - on the global stage? it is difficult for our partners who have not - on the global stage? it is difficult i for our partners who have not been able to be at right now, but it is good to remind our viewers it is an unprecedented and seen score for the far right, which leaves us close to countries like hungary. we can see the green vote was very low in the european elections. all the questions around climate change have been subsumed... it is difficult to predict that, because we have parties that are extremely divided within their groups and a very different programme.- within their groups and a very different programme. let's talk about the global _ different programme. let's talk about the global order. - different programme. let's talk about the global order. ukrainej about the global order. ukraine depends on support from the west, the national rally, the far right, now supports ukraine but this is a party that accepted a big loan from a russian bank. marine le pen was in moscow to get vladimir putin's blessing before the 2017 election. what could that mean for the ukraine conflict? it what could that mean for the ukraine conflict? , , ., , , conflict? it is probably the scariest move _ conflict? it is probably the scariest move that - conflict? it is probably the scariest move that could l conflict? it is probably the - scariest move that could happen for our partners, it is quite real that they have strong links with russia, but the line has been really unclear. especiallyjordan bardella unclear. especially jordan ba rdella who unclear. especiallyjordan bardella who could become prime minister, he has insisted that he will not change france's direction in terms of solidarity with ukraine, in terms of real monetary funds and decisions. that could come very quickly and have no more support for ukraine. actually it was a decision made to send millions to the ukraine army that has not been voted in parliament and is now hanging. italics parliament and is now hanging. calls from the president _ parliament and is now hanging. calls from the president to rally the troops to block the national rally. but we are talking about vastly different parties in the centre, in the left, a leftist coalition of trotskyists, greens, socialists. can there really be a united front against the national front for the second round? fin against the national front for the second round?— second round? on the left, it is clear from _ second round? on the left, it is clear from the _ second round? on the left, it is clear from the start, _ second round? on the left, it is clear from the start, if - second round? on the left, it is clear from the start, if they - second round? on the left, it is i clear from the start, if they come insert their candidate will withdraw. what is tricky is if they should not get a majority vote, they cannot form a government and we are stuck with a hung parliament. and as you rightly said, there are three main blocks, the left, centre and the right, they have nothing in common meaning they will have to form coalitions with people who have nothing to do with one another. so we are entering uncharted territories or institutions are created so we can avoid the situation. now we have got to be creative, which is not a french specialty. creative, which is not a french specialty-— creative, which is not a french secial . , ., ., ., specialty. present macron wanted to come into power— specialty. present macron wanted to come into power to _ specialty. present macron wanted to come into power to bridge _ specialty. present macron wanted to come into power to bridge the - specialty. present macron wanted to come into power to bridge the right| come into power to bridge the right and left, he has pushed people to the extremes.— and left, he has pushed people to the extremes. absolutely. when he was first elected _ the extremes. absolutely. when he was first elected in _ the extremes. absolutely. when he was first elected in 2017, _ the extremes. absolutely. when he was first elected in 2017, he - the extremes. absolutely. when he was first elected in 2017, he had - the extremes. absolutely. when he was first elected in 2017, he had a l was first elected in 2017, he had a very strong position where he said after my first term, i want people to be without reasons to vote for it national rally. he wanted them to be extinct. here we are today, where they are basically at the doorsteps of power, marine le pen is getting more and more votes, she had more votes today that she had in 2022, and he wanted to reform the fifth republic. the reality hits he might actually bury it. if republic. the reality hits he might actually bury it— actually bury it. if the far right aet into actually bury it. if the far right get into government, - actually bury it. if the far right get into government, there i actually bury it. if the far right - get into government, there would be this awkward, what is known in france, to with a centrist president, are looking at potentially turn have years of complete paralysis, aren't we? paralysis, chaos, measures which might— paralysis, chaos, measures which might flip— paralysis, chaos, measures which might flip the programmes like clamping down on immigration but not solve the _ clamping down on immigration but not solve the economic problem. as we were _ solve the economic problem. as we were discussing earlier, france is in a good — were discussing earlier, france is in a good position compared to some of its _ in a good position compared to some of its european partners when it comes— of its european partners when it comes to — of its european partners when it comes to support the workers and public— comes to support the workers and public services, but we're not going in the _ public services, but we're not going in the right— public services, but we're not going in the right direction to save the hospitals — in the right direction to save the hospitals and schools and to promise a new _ hospitals and schools and to promise a new future for students and to build _ a new future for students and to build up — a new future for students and to build up a — a new future for students and to build up a fence that is dynamic and not eating _ build up a fence that is dynamic and not eating as it is now. if they cannot— not eating as it is now. if they cannot even agree measures that realistically tackle climate change, discuss _ realistically tackle climate change, discuss with their european partners, it is chaos, dispute, people — partners, it is chaos, dispute, people are _ partners, it is chaos, dispute, people are live on television all day and — people are live on television all day and didn't mention it, but the media _ day and didn't mention it, but the media have — day and didn't mention it, but the media have shifted to the far right very deeply, with a lot of voters multiplied on social media. it is a scary— multiplied on social media. it is a scary situation for french people who are — scary situation for french people who are left with very little reliable _ who are left with very little reliable notions on what is good politics — reliable notions on what is good politics by them. —— for them. reliable notions on what is good politics by them. -- for them. thank ou, ou politics by them. -- for them. thank you. you have _ politics by them. -- for them. thank you. you have got — politics by them. -- for them. thank you, you have got your _ politics by them. -- for them. thank you, you have got your work - politics by them. -- for them. thank you, you have got your work cut - politics by them. -- for them. thank you, you have got your work cut out| you, you have got your work cut out watching the politics in this country. it is uncharted territory, just a reminder that the national rally is here to the party of marine le pen's father. the founder called the nazi concentration camps a detail of history. marine le pen has detoxified the party amid a more acceptable to the mainstream, but still they will be a lot of people, immigrants in this country he will be worried about the programme, clamping down on migration, removing the automatic right to get french nationality if you are born in this country, getting a priority for french people of immigrants in terms of national welfare. some of the party pledges would be unconstitutional and might have to be forced through any constitution. this country is having shock waves as we speak cent through it, we will have to see whether there is a majority for the far right after sunday's second round, or as whether the prime minister said that is a united front to block it. that is all from paris for now. i will hand you back. many thanks to you, the team and the guests live in paris but the reaction to those exit polls. the historic result if confirmed. we turn to the euros — where england have come within a minute of being knocked out — but managed to beat slovakia to secure their place in the last eight. they went behind in the first half and needed a goal deep into injury time at the end of the second half, from jude bellingham to equalise. butjust a couple of minutes into extra time — a goal from harry kane gave them the lead — which they held, giving them victory in last 16 tie. joe inwood was in a fan zone in brixton. to say it was tense, it is a bit of an understatement. i feel like to say it was tense, it is a bit of an understatement. ifeel like i have aged thanks to that game. i am 'ust about have aged thanks to that game. i am just about starting _ have aged thanks to that game. ian just about starting to come down after what was the most extraordinary 120 minutes of football. we shouldn't let what happened in the last 31 minutes take away from the fact that the start of this was pretty diabolical from england's perspective. it was not a game of two halves, i cannot do the maths quickly enough but a game of two parts because until that bicycle kick from jude bellingham in the 95th minute of football went in, the mood here was low. the fans have been sympathetic to gareth southgate before the match started, they had been optimistic and as the game more on and ingrid were really poor, i think it is fair to say, you had the country from my colleagues on itv, they were saying they cannot believe they were saying they cannot believe they were saying they cannot believe they were not making changes and doing something —— commentary. what happened in the end was a moment of individual magic, offshoot of good fortune and sheer class from jude bellingham that put england level with slovakia and through to extra time. and after that, my word, i had very rarely experience an atmosphere like it, a match like it. at the end of the full—time whistle went and england were to extra time. and after that, england were to extra time. and afterthat, my england were to extra time. and after that, my word, england were to extra time. and afterthat, my word, i had england were to extra time. and after that, my word, i had very rarely experience an atmosphere like it, a match like it. at the end of the full—time whistle went and england were 2—1 victors, harry kane not down michael tony, it felt like england had won the euros. all the anthems were being sung. it really was remarkable. i think england are now going through with a feeling of positivity, not because of the quality of the performance, but because of the nature of the victory. i think that is going to put them through with the feel—good factor which may be was lacking after that lacklustre 0—0 draw against slovenia in the final game of the group stage. england fans have finished deceiving on a high, evenif have finished deceiving on a high, even if it was an emotional roller—coaster to get there. that even if it was an emotional roller-coaster to get there. that is an understatement. _ roller-coaster to get there. that is an understatement. england - roller-coaster to get there. that is an understatement. england fans. roller-coaster to get there. that is i an underst