Far-right leads in latest poll ahead of France's legislative elections

At least 289 seats are needed for a parliamentary majority, and National Rally is predicted to get between 260 and 295 seats.

Transcript

00:00The latest polls suggest the far-right has around 36% as France prepares for the parliamentary elections,

00:06the first round of which is on Sunday.

00:08If National Rally do win the second round on the following Sunday,

00:12it'll be the first far-right government in France since it was occupied by the Nazis.

00:16But President Macron says he won't step down before his term ends in 2027.

00:21An Ilfop-Fiducial poll suggests that National Rally will get about 36% of the vote.

00:28The Popular Front, a coalition of centrists, leftists and greens, about 28%,

00:33and President Macron's centre-right party, about 20%.

00:38The winning number of seats is 289 out of the 577 seats in the parliament,

00:44and National Rally are expected to get somewhere between 260 and 295 seats.

00:49It means the National Rally's Jordan Bardella could be the next prime minister.

00:53Our compatriots have the feeling that the state no longer respects its laws,

00:57that the state is weak with the strong and strong with the weak.

01:01The far-right's growing popularity appears to stem from people's feelings of insecurity.

01:06And because France's politics are now deeply polarised,

01:09it'll be hard for a coalition to form in parliament if no party wins outright.

01:14And so, yes, I also set myself this objective, that we manage to have a democracy,

01:18a national assembly, perhaps more alive, less brutal.

01:22Turnout is expected to be higher this time around.

01:25Voters know this could be an historic election,

01:28with many determined to get the far-right into power,

01:31and many others desperate to keep them out.

01:35President Macron will most likely be forced into appointing a prime minister from a rival winning party.

01:41Such a situation is called cohabitation, and last occurred 22 years ago.