The first round of high-stakes early parliamentary elections began in France on Sunday in an attempt by President Emmanuel Macron to quell a rising tide of nationalist, far-right parties, but experts have warned it may instead give rise to those extremists groups for the first time since World War II.

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Macron called the National Assembly elections three years earlier than required after his party fell in a June 9 European election to the National Rally party, a group led by party president Jordan Bardella, 28, and French far-right stalwart Marine Le Pen, 55. The National Rally party has been historically hostile toward the country's Muslim community, has a past rooted in racism and antisemitism and has ties to Russia, according to the Associated Press. After the loss, Macron called on France's people to build a new coalition of those “who do not recognise themselves in the extremist fever."

Instead of restoring power to the center, polls suggest Macron may effectively end up handing power to the National Rally by calling the election early. Days ago, he defended his decision as "the heaviest, the most serious, but the most responsible" solution. Macron has said he won’t step down before 2027, when his presidential term expires, even if his party is weakened in the elections.

If National Rally wins the parliamentary majority, Macron would likely have to name Bardella as prime minister, splitting the two most powerful jobs in government between two different parties. Bardella has told voters he will "restore order" and curb immigration if put in power. If his party does not secure an absolute majority in the National Assembly, Bardella has said he's not interested in the job. In that scenario, Macron's choice for prime minister would still need to reflect the make-up of the new Assembly. He could try to find someone within the second-largest party to appoint, according to The Guardian, or ultimately make his own pick (which could lead to a no-confidence vote). If Bardella becomes prime minister, it will be the first time that power has been shared between parties since the early 2000s. It has happened only three times in France's history.

The first polling projections are expected at 8 p.m. local time (2 p.m. EDT) with official results later in the day. A second round of voting will take place July 7.

Bardella has a large presence on TikTok. The young politician has 1.7 million followers as of Sunday and has been spurred to success by his popularity among young voters and women (Bardella has promised to protect women's rights). His presence on the platform paints him as young, relatable and approachable, and he's posted videos that include him wine tasting, doing shots and roasting opposition party members.

Issues like immigration, the rising cost of living and inflation have been at the top of voters' minds heading into this election. Macron and his pro-business stance is seen as out-of-touch by everyday residents, the Associated Press reported, and his popularity has been falling. Macron's party did not secure an absolute majority in the 2022 National Assembly elections, which creates somewhat of a gridlock in government, much like when Congress and the White House are controlled by different parties in the United States. If the election forces Macron to install a prime minister from a different party, that gridlock is only expected to worsen.