Marine Le Pen has claimed National Rally has "practically wiped out" Emmanuel Macron after winning a plurality of votes in the first round of voting in the French legislative election.

National Rally, which is a populist right-wing party, received 34 per cent support while taking an anti-immigration and Eurosceptic position.

Macron's gamble appears to have backfired, with his centrist coalition collapsing into third place.

The left-wing New Popular Front cemented second place, with around 29 per cent support.

Speaking after the exit polls, Le Pen claimed National Rally was seeking an "absolute majority" in the second round on Sunday.

She said: "Democracy has spoken and the French have put the RN and its allies at the top, practically wiping out the Macron camp.

“We need an absolute majority so that [RN leader] Jordan Bardella can be appointed Prime Minister in a week’s time.”

However, Macron called for a "broad alliance" to block National Rally's march to the National Assembly.

He said: “Faced with the National Rally, it is time for a large, clearly democratic and republican rally for the second round."

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Gabriel Attal, France's recently-appointed Prime Minister who is seen as a protege of Macron, added: “Not a single vote must go to the National Rally.”

Projections suggest National Rally could sweep up between 230 and 280 seats, with 289 needed for a majority.

The left-wing alliance looks set to win between 115 and 145 seats, with Macron expecting a similar number of seats.

Centre-right Republicans could also return dozens of MPs to Paris, with 30 to 50 seats expected to fall to the former governing party.

The first round of voting coincided with scenes of protest across major French cities.

Paris, which will host the Olympics in just 25 days time, has already witnessed people setting off flares and smashing show windows.

Barricades erected to keep crowds at bay were also set alight, while some protesters clambered up the Place de la Republique.

Armoured police officers were forced to protect young women trying to enjoy nights out in the French capital.