PARIS (AP) — France’s far-right National Front conquered a symbolic northern town in Sunday’s first round of municipal elections and led in some other cities, drawing calls by the governing left and rival right to stop the anti-immigration party’s advance.

The governing Socialist Party, which was victorious in 2008 voting, was losing ground to the conservative party, reflecting the deep unpopularity of President Francois Hollande who has failed to cure the struggling economy and unemployment rate hovering above 10 percent.