The French president has urged voters to stick to the centre lashing out at “unnatural alliances at both extremes… who will not be able to implement any program.”

Mr Macron will remain president until 2027 even if his Renew party loses the vote, the second round of which will be held in July.

However, his presidency would be severely weakened if the National Rally were to take control of the government and legislative policy.

Following Mr Macron’s surprise decision to call a snap election, the country’s former Socialist president Francois Hollande announced he would run for parliament again.

Mr Hollande, who was France’s president from 2012-2017, left office with record levels of unpopularity. He is hated by parts of the radical left.

He said he would stand as an MP for the southwestern Correze department for the New Popular Front, a left-wing grouping formed for the elections that includes the Socialists, hard-left, Greens and Communists.

“An exceptional decision for an exceptional situation,” Mr Hollande told reporters in the department’s main town of Tulle, explaining his surprise comeback.

“I am not seeking anything for myself,” he insisted, after a flurry of recent media appearances sparked speculation he might be eyeing a run for the presidency.

“I just want to be of service.”