France’s far right National Rally still leading ahead of election, poll shows

PARIS: France’s far right National Rally (RN) party and its allies are seen leading the first round of the country’s parliamentary elections with 35.5 percent of the vote, according to a poll published on Sunday.

The Ipsos survey - conducted for Le Parisien newspaper and Radio France on June 19-20 - showed the left-wing New Popular Front (NPF) alliance in second place with 29.5 percent of the vote.

President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance was seen in third place, winning 19.5 percent of votes.

The turnout rate is seen at between 60 and 64 percent, which would be much higher than the 47.5 percent seen at the last general election in June 2022.

The RN’s lead in polls ahead of the election that will take place in two rounds, on June 30 and July 7, is unlikely to win the party an absolute majority. Macron called the ballot after his alliance’s crushing defeat at EU elections earlier this month.

In a separate Ipsos survey, published by the Financial Times, the National Rally is seen as the most trustworthy when it comes to managing the economy and public finances.

According to the survey, 25 percent of respondents trust Marine Le Pen’s RN the most to take the right decisions on economic issues, versus 22 percent for the New Popular Front and 20 percent for Macron’s alliance.