French election too close to call as support for far-left Mélenchon surges
Latest polls show just 3 percentage points between top four candidates
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Jean-Luc Mélenchon and François Fillon have closed the gap on the two leading candidates in the French Presidential election, Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen, according to the latest polling.
The poll by Ipsos-Sopra Sterna predicts that the centrist Macron would receive 22 per cent in the first round, as would Front National leader Marine Le Pen.
The left-wing candidate Mélenchon is on 20 per cent, while Mr Fillon trails just one point behind on 19 per cent.
In a previous poll published by Ipsos France, Ms Le Pen and Mr Macron were on 25 per cent in the first round, comfortably ahead of of Mr Fillon, in third place, who was expected to receive 17.5 per cent.
Mr Mélenchon, a hard-left candidate who supports a Universal Basic Income and has promised to withdraw France from Nato and the World Bank, has been enjoying a surge in popularity in recent weeks.
He has overtaken the Socialist Party’s Benoît Hamon to become the leading left-wing candidate.
Meanwhile, Ms Le Pen’s support has nosedived after the European Parliament accused the Front National of defrauding it to the tune of €340,000 (£290,000).
French voters will go the polls on 23 April. Under the French system, if no presidential candidate gains more than half the vote, they are pitted against each other in a second round of voting 14 days later.
This year, 11 candidates are standing for election, so a second round is virtually a certainty.
Taking into account undecided voters and allowing for a margin of error in polling results, it is impossible to say with certainty who of the front four will go head-to-head in the second round.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments