Macron and Le Pen neck and neck ahead of French presidential election Sunday, poll shows
Ring-wing challenger Marine Le Pen is snapping at the heels of centrist French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of Sunday's presidential election, according to a poll published Friday by French research firm Elaba.
The poll, which surveyed 1,801 people on Thursday and Friday, shows Macron and Le Pen polling at 26 and 25 percent, respectively, in the crowded first-round field. The gap is will within the margin of error.
Both Macron and Le Pen are all but certain to make the second round. The third-highest polling candidate, leftist Jean-Luc Mélenchon, is polling at 17.5 percent.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In French presidential elections, if no candidate receives 50 percent of the vote in the first round, voters return to the polls two weeks later for a runoff between the top two candidates. In 2017, Macron trounced Le Pen in the second round, receiving nearly two-thirds of the vote.
Polling suggests that a repeat of 2017 is unlikely. According to Elabe, the 61-31 lead Macron held over Le Pen in second-round polling conducted in early March has entirely evaporated. The incumbent president now polls at 51 percent to Le Pen's 49, well within the margin of error once again.
According to The Associated Press, Le Pen, once viewed as a far-right extremist, has successfully broadened her appeal while sidestepping accusations of too-cozy relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, per AP, rising prices have eaten into Macron's poll numbers.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Grayson Quay was the weekend editor at TheWeek.com. His writing has also been published in National Review, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Modern Age, The American Conservative, The Spectator World, and other outlets. Grayson earned his M.A. from Georgetown University in 2019.
-
Magazine interactive crossword - May 3, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - May 3, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine solutions - May 3, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - May 3, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine printables - May 3, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - May 3, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
India elections start amid violence, hate speech accusations
Talking Points Narendra Modi seeks a third term while critics worry about the future of the country's democracy
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine cheers House approval of military aid
Speed Read Following a lengthy struggle, the House has approved $95 billion in aid for Ukraine and Israel
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Poland, Germany nab alleged anti-Ukraine spies
Speed Read A man was arrested over a supposed Russian plot to kill Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel hits Iran with retaliatory airstrike
Speed Read The attack comes after Iran's drone and missile barrage last weekend
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Peter Murrell: Sturgeon's husband charged over SNP 'embezzlement' claims
Speed Read SNP expresses 'shock' as former chief executive rearrested in long-running investigation into claims of mishandled campaign funds
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Mark Menzies: Tories investigate MP after 'bad people' cash claims
Speed Read Fylde MP will sit as an independent while party looks into allegations he misused campaign funds on medical expenses and blackmail pay-out
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Why Johnson won't just pass Ukraine aid
Speed Read The House Speaker could have sent $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine — but it would have split his caucus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of war
Speed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published