Macron's Ensemble Bloc Losing Ground Ahead Of 2nd Round Election

Two polls released in the past 24 have shown French President Emmanuel Macron's Ensemble bloc losing ground ahead of the second round legislative elections on Sunday.

• Ifop-Fiducial shows Ensemble gaining 265-300 seats, still marginally within the range required for a majority (289) but broadening on the low side.
  • The same poll shows RN and UDC both gaining a projected +5
• A Harris Interactive-Toluna poll released yesterday gives Ensemble a similar projected range of 257-297. This poll also records a significant drop since the last poll of -8 seats.
• France24 examines the legislative avenues available to Macron in the event of a hung parliament saying it "would be an unusual event under the Fifth Republic and there is no institutional rule to follow to build a coalition, as is the case in countries like Belgium or the Netherlands."
• Macron would likely have to offer sweeteners to the conservative Les Republicains (LR), in order to form a coalition. This could include offering prominent cabinet position and manifesto alterations.
• If Macron fails to build a viable coalition he may be forced to a negotiate on an adhoc basis.
• France24 warns: "This might lead to political deadlock in a country where consensus-building and coalition work is not engrained in the political culture."