Mélenchon’s potential qualification for the two-candidate runoff next year is viewed as a nightmare scenario by France’s political center-right and center-left, as polling indicates he would likely suffer a heavy defeat to the far right.
The Odoxa poll indicated that the leader of France Unbowed would garner 16 percent of the vote in the first round, an increase from 12 percent in a similar poll last month. This places him nearly equal with Philippe, who dropped to 17 percent from 21 percent.
Mélenchon also emerged as the most favored left-wing politician among left-wing voters, surpassing rivals such as former President François Hollande and MEP Raphaël Glucksmann. About 49 percent of left-wing voters supported Mélenchon, compared to 43 percent for Hollande and 36 percent for Glucksmann, according to the poll.
“For Édouard Philippe, this May poll rings alarm bells, showing a double hit … with him dropping behind Bardella in the second round and within range of Mélenchon,” noted Odoxa head Gaël Sliman.
An Odoxa poll released in November projected that the National Rally leader would defeat the far-left candidate by 74 percent to 26 percent.
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