PARIS, Aug 26 (Reuters) – French far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon is seen as the possible rival to far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in next year’s presidential run-off, a second poll showed this week, stressing the electorate’s growing polarisation as Emmanuel Macron’s era ends.
• Melenchon, the leader of far-left France Unbowed (LFI), would end up second in the first round of the presidential election scheduled in April 2027, qualifying for a second round, in three out of seven scenarios tested by the IFOP pollster on August 24 and 25.
• Melenchon was seen winning between 16% and 19% in the first round, while Le Pen would get 33% to 35% of votes. Le Pen would win 67% of the votes against Melenchon in the run-off.
• In four scenarios tested by IFOP, centre-right candidates and former ministers of Macron would end the first round ahead of Melenchon.
• The IFOP poll follows another one by rival pollster Toluna Harris Interactive released on Monday that also showed Melenchon as a likely contestant in a potential presidential runoff.
• Melenchon has already run three times for president in 2012, 2017 and 2022 but has never managed to reach the second round.
(Reporting by Inti Landauro)
