Presidential Polls-Macron Retains 1st Place, Tight Battle For 2nd

The latest hypothetical presidential opinion poll from Ifop makes positive reading for incumbent President Emmanuel Macron, who leads comfortably in first-round polling and retains a lead in all the hypothetical second-round matchups polled.

• The potential candidacy of right-wing TV personality and writer Eric Zemmour makes the contest for second place particularly tight. Below are some of the closest first-round polling scenarios:
  • Bertrand LR nom, Zemmour running: Macron (LREM): 24%, Le Pen (RN): 18%, Bertrand (LR): 15%, Zemmour (Ind.): 12%, Jadot (Greens): 8%
  • Pecresse LR nom, Zemmour runing: Macron (LREM): 26%, Le Pen (RN): 19%, Zemmour (Ind.): 13%, Pecresse (LR): 11%, Jadot (Greens): 8%
• In all hypothetical second-round polling, Emmanuel Macron defeats his opponent (Le Pen by 58% to 42%, Pecresse 59% to 41%, Bertrand by just 51% to 49%).
• The centre-right Gaullist Les Republicains have yet to nominate an official presidential candidate. Regional president Xavier Bertrand polls the best of any potential nominee, but is demanding that he receives the nomination without a primary, a demand that the other candidates (regional pres. Valerie Pecresse, fmr EU Commissioner Michel Barnier, others) have criticised.