French far-left leader Melenchon close to presidential runoff, poll shows

August 26, 2026 3:06 PM EDT

Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of French far-left opposition party La France Insoumise (France Unbowed - LFI), delivers a speech during a campaign rally to support the list "Etre Bondy" for the upcoming mayoral election in Bondy near Paris, France, March 4, 2

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)



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