Far-Left Leader Melenchon Closes In on French Presidential Runoff, New Poll Finds

A candidate who urged Venezuelans to take up arms against the U.S. and has called for closer cooperation with Beijing is within reach of France's second round.

Far-Left Leader Melenchon Closes In on French Presidential Runoff, New Poll Finds

TL;DR

  • Jean-Luc Melenchon is projected to reach the second round of the 2027 French presidential election in three of five poll scenarios.
  • Marine Le Pen is consistently polling ahead in the first round, with 35 percent to 38 percent of voting intentions.
  • Melenchon's support has increased to between 16 percent and 17 percent.
  • In scenarios against Edouard Philippe and Gabriel Attal, Melenchon polls at 16 percent, ahead of Philippe at 14 percent and Attal at 8 percent.