For Le Pen and her Rassemblement National (National Rally) lieutenant Jordan Bardella, the first round showed progress on their strategy of expanding in the south to complement their traditional power base in the industrial north. In Marseille and Nice, candidates came in first or second, putting them in a strong position for the run-offs on March 22. RN candidates also did well in Perpignan and Toulon, where far-right parties have long been popular.