Key facts
- A French presidential election runoff between Jordan Bardella and Jean-Luc Mélenchon is increasingly likely.
- Jordan Bardella leads the far-right National Rally.
- Jean-Luc Mélenchon leads the far-left France Unbowed.
- Centrist parties are alarmed by the potential runoff.
- Centrist parties fear a lack of a unifying candidate.
- Jordan Bardella rejected support from U.S. President Donald Trump.
- Bardella described Donald Trump's behavior as erratic and unsteady.
- Bardella stated his party seeks support from French voters.
- Bardella stated his party does not seek external interference.
Recent polls suggest a growing likelihood of a French presidential election runoff between Jordan Bardella, leader of the far-right National Rally, and Jean-Luc Mélenchon, chief of the far-left France Unbowed. This prospect has alarmed centrist parties, who are concerned about the absence of a unifying candidate capable of challenging the two extreme poles of French politics.