French vote gives leftists most seats over far right, but leaves hung parliament and deadlock [Video]

French President Emmanuel Macron cast his vote on Sunday in a pivotal runoff election that could hand a historic victory to Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally and its inward-looking, anti-immigrant vision — or produce a hung parliament and years of political deadlock. Macron voted with his wife Brigitte in the northern seaside town of Le Touquet. (AP Video / July 7, 2024)

By John Leicester, Lori Hinnant And Sylvie Corbet The Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — A coalition of the French left won the most seats in high-stakes legislative elections Sunday, beating back a far-right surge but failing to win a majority. The outcome left France, a pillar of the European Union and Olympic host country, facing the stunning prospect of a hung parliament and political paralysis.

The political turmoil could rattle markets and the French economy, the EU’s second-largest, and have far-ranging implications for the war in …