French far right dominates polls three days ahead of snap elections

NEWS WIRES
·1-min read

The French far right is leading opinion polls with three days left before voters cast their ballots in snap legislative elections called by President Emmanuel Macron following his party’s defeat in European elections over two weeks ago. Marine Le Pen’s National Rally is estimated to win more than 35 percent in the first round on Sunday, with a left-wing alliance following at 29 percent and Macron's centrists trailing at around 20 percent.

France's political future was up in the air Thursday with the far-right surging in polls but other forces fighting to the end three days before a high-stakes parliamentary vote.

Depending on the result, President Emmanuel Macron could be left in a tense "cohabitation" with a prime minister from an opposing party, or with a chamber unable to produce a stable majority for at least a year to govern the EU's second economy and top military power.

Surveys suggest voters will hand the National Rally (RN) of Marine Le Pen over 35 percent in the first round on Sunday, with a left alliance trailing on up to 29 and Macron's centrists in the dust at around 20 percent.

When he called the snap poll after a June 9 European election drubbing by the RN, Macron had hoped to present voters with a stark choice about whether to hand France to the far right.

(AFP)


Read more on FRANCE 24 English

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