FRANCE: Poll Gives Far-Right Sizeable Lead; LR Divisions Erupt Over RN Alliance

The latest opinion poll from OpinionWay, in line with other polling, shows the far-right Rassembelement National (National Rally, RN) with a sizeable 10-point lead over its closest competitor, the left-wing NUPES alliance. A generic RN candidate sits on 33%, with NUPES on 23%. President Emmanuel Macron's centrist bloc sits in third place with 18% support. The poll does not offer a projection, with OpinionWay VP Bruno Jeanbart stating "As long as we do not know the candidates in each constituency, [seat projections] would not make sense and does not seem not reasonable",

• OpinionWay, Fieldwork 10 June, 1,095 respondents. RN: 33%, NUPES: 23%, Presidential Majority (Renaissance and allies): 18%, Les Republicains and allies: 8%, Reconquest: 5%, Miscellaneous left: 4%, Miscellaneous right: 2%, Miscellaneous greens: 2%, Miscellaneous far-left: 1%, Others: 4%.
• Leader of the conservative Les Republicains (LR), Eric Ciotti, caused a stir earlier by calling for an alliance with RN. However, this sparked outrage from party colleagues. Two senators have quit the party, and the LR head of the Senate and LR caucus leader in the National Assembly have called on him to resign. As such, the RN-LR alliance, that would have substantially raised the likelihood of a right-wing majority in parliament, may not come to fruition. 
• The NUPES alliance, involving the far-left LFI, centre-left Socialist Party, green Ecologists, and far-left Communist Party, has broadened to become the New Popular Front (NFP). This is set to include parties of the miscellaneous left, boosting the left's challenge to RN.