EXPLAINER-Why do France's regional elections matter? Look ahead

FILE PHOTO: French President Emmanuel Macron attends a meeting with French far-right National Rally (Rassemblement National) party leader Marine Le Pen at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, February 6, 2019. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer/Pool/File Photo

PARIS (Reuters) - Marine Le Pen's far-right Rassemblement National party hoped France's regional elections in June would bolster her credentials as a leader fit for power and provide a platform for her 2022 presidential bid.

Those hopes hung in the balance on Sunday after a record low turnout across the nation saw the party perform worse than predicted. Voters, as expected, also punished President Emmanuel Macron and his ruling party.