Far-left firebrand Mélenchon gaining ground in French presidential race, poll shows

Survey shows battle of political extremes becoming increasingly likely.

Eight months before the presidential election, Jean-Luc Mélenchon is surging in the polls. The LFI leader could now reach the run-off, while the left is split between his bid and the alternative championed by Raphaël Glucksmann.

French far-left leader Melenchon seen reaching presidential runoff, poll shows  Reuters

PARIS, Aug 24 - French far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon is seen as the most likely rival to far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in next year's presidential run-off, a Monday poll showed, underlining a deeply polarised electorate as Emmanuel Macron's presidency draws to a close.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon courted the Greens in a speech on environmental planning at the summer conference of his party, radical left La France Insoumise, on Sunday. Meanwhile, rival Raphaël Glucksmann announced his candidacy.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon courted the Greens in a speech on environmental planning at the summer conference of his party, radical left La France Insoumise, on Sunday. Meanwhile, rival Raphaël Glucksmann announced his candidacy.

French centre-left MEP Glucksmann launches presidential bid  euractiv.com

IEBC has gazetted the 2027 election calendar, setting key deadlines for voter registration, party primaries, nominations and campaigns.