French presidential race largely unchanged after weekend unrest

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 20:44 · Archive

A poll conducted after weekend rioting in France shows little change in voter intentions for the presidential election due next spring. The Ifop and Fiducial survey was carried out online from Saturday evening—after rioting and looting had begun—until Monday.

Far-right candidate Marine Le Pen remains well ahead with 34 to 38 per cent support across various scenarios tested. Some of her opponents had expected her support to rise following the unrest, but the poll shows little such boost. Far-left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon holds second place or is tied for it, despite repeated government accusations that he stoked the violence. Mélenchon and his allies have forcefully denied these claims.

Mélenchon's position remains similar to before the riots, though his lead over center-right former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe and center-left MEP Raphaël Glucksmann is in some cases within the margin of error. France's presidential system requires a two-person runoff if no candidate obtains a majority on the first round, making the battle for second place the most crucial story of the election.

How it is being reported

• Le Pen sees polls boost amid mass protests, riotsMarine Le Pen is set to officially launch her presidential campaign this weekend at the National Rally two-day party congress in Orléans. The latest Ifop poll, carried out in the wake of the mass protests and riots in France, suggests the far right leader would win the first round of the presidential election by a wide margin, and far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon emerged as her most likely opponent in the runoff. FRANCE 24's Emerald Maxwell reports.France 24 · 21 Oct, 19:56
• French presidential race largely unaffected by unrest, first post-riot poll showsFar-right front-runner Marine Le Pen is still ahead of the pack, and far-left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon remains in a close race for second place.Politico Europe · 20 Oct, 18:07

In this story: Marine Le Pen · Jean-Luc Mélenchon · Edouard Philippe · Raphaël Glucksmann · France · National Rally

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