French far right has big lead over Macronists in European election, polls show
France's far-right Rassemblement National holds a commanding lead in voting intentions for the coming European Parliament elections, according to an opinion poll published on Sunday.
Voting intentions remained "very volatile", however, said the Elabe institute, which conducted the polls for BFM television and the weekly La Tribune Dimanche.
"One in three voters could still change their minds before the election, especially on the left," it said.
The poll was conducted among 1,803 people between May 29th and 31st.
The RN's top candidate, Jordan Bardella, is credited with 32.5 percent of voting intentions in the poll.
That put him far ahead of Valérie Hayer, an ally of centre-right President Emmanuel Macron, who came in second with 16 percent, followed by centre-left Socialist candidate Raphaël Glucksmann with 13 percent.
While the standing of the main candidates was broadly unchanged from a similar poll a week ago, the left-wing parties La France Insoumise, the Greens and Communists made slight gains.
The right-wing opposition Les Républicains and the extreme-right Reconquête remained below the five percent threshold needed for representation in the European Parliament.
In France, the European Parliament elections are often seen as a key gauge of national politicians' popularity.
"Rassemblement National has become the home of millions of patriots," Bardella told a Paris rally attended by around 5,500 supporters on Sunday, including party president Marine Le Pen.
"Today, more than ever, we are the main party in France," he said. "Tomorrow we will be the party of change."
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal meanwhile told France 3 television that "obviously" Hayer could still win, saying: "That's what we're fighting for."
A day earlier the candidate herself had called on her supporters to "create a late surge" at a rally themed "It's Not Over".
Opinion polls show far-right parties making gains in several European Union countries in the elections which will be held between June 6th and June 9th - in France, polling day is on Sunday June 9th.
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Voting intentions remained "very volatile", however, said the Elabe institute, which conducted the polls for BFM television and the weekly La Tribune Dimanche.
"One in three voters could still change their minds before the election, especially on the left," it said.
The poll was conducted among 1,803 people between May 29th and 31st.
The RN's top candidate, Jordan Bardella, is credited with 32.5 percent of voting intentions in the poll.
That put him far ahead of Valérie Hayer, an ally of centre-right President Emmanuel Macron, who came in second with 16 percent, followed by centre-left Socialist candidate Raphaël Glucksmann with 13 percent.
While the standing of the main candidates was broadly unchanged from a similar poll a week ago, the left-wing parties La France Insoumise, the Greens and Communists made slight gains.
The right-wing opposition Les Républicains and the extreme-right Reconquête remained below the five percent threshold needed for representation in the European Parliament.
In France, the European Parliament elections are often seen as a key gauge of national politicians' popularity.
"Rassemblement National has become the home of millions of patriots," Bardella told a Paris rally attended by around 5,500 supporters on Sunday, including party president Marine Le Pen.
"Today, more than ever, we are the main party in France," he said. "Tomorrow we will be the party of change."
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal meanwhile told France 3 television that "obviously" Hayer could still win, saying: "That's what we're fighting for."
A day earlier the candidate herself had called on her supporters to "create a late surge" at a rally themed "It's Not Over".
Opinion polls show far-right parties making gains in several European Union countries in the elections which will be held between June 6th and June 9th - in France, polling day is on Sunday June 9th.
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