Key facts
- Polls indicate that unrest in France is bolstering far-right and far-left rivals.
- Marine Le Pen leads the presidential race by a double-digit margin.
French presidential hopefuls struggle as unrest fuels rivals
IN SHORT
French center-right presidential candidates are struggling to respond to ongoing protests and violence, with polls indicating that unrest is bolstering far-right and far-left rivals. Candidates from President Emmanuel Macron's coalition face elimination in the first round of elections as they fail to unite on a common message.
Who's Involved
Marine Le Pen
far-right presidential candidate leading the race
Jean-Luc Mélenchon
far-left presidential candidate appearing best placed for second place
Emmanuel Macron
president whose coalition candidates face elimination
Gabriel Attal
candidate for Macron's Renaissance party proposing a primary
Gaël Sliman
head of French polling firm Odoxa
Jordan Bardella
Le Pen's deputy
↳ Why This Matters
Ongoing political unrest and the rise of far-right and far-left candidates in France could lead to a significant shift in the country's political landscape, potentially impacting European stability and economic policy.