Le Pen and Melenchon ahead in 2027 French presidential race, poll shows

PARIS: French far-right leader Marine Le Pen and hard-left rival Jean-Luc Melenchon consolidated their lead in voting intention ahead of next year’s presidential election, a poll showed on Monday, as political polarization in the country intensifies.

Le Pen would top the first-round vote with between 34 percent and 36 percent depending on the scenarios tested by pollster Toluna Harris Interactive in a survey carried out between November third and fifth.

A similar poll last month showed her at between 35 percent and 37 percent.

Melenchon, the candidate of the far-left France Unbowed (LFI) party, is seen reaching a run-off in all five scenarios polled, with either 18 percent or 19 percent.