Le Pen Leads Rivals in French Runoff Polling Scenarios

A Toluna-Harris Interactive poll conducted May 25-27 found Marine Le Pen ahead in all three tested runoff scenarios for France's next presidential election. Le Pen received 52 percent against former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, 54 percent against former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, and 67 percent against far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon.

Pen is currently barred from running after receiving a five-year ban from public office. She has appealed the ruling, with a decision expected July 7. If the appeal fails, National Rally president Jordan Bardella is expected to become the party's candidate.

Earlier polling this week showed Bardella leading a first-round vote with 32 percent, ahead of Philippe at 17 percent and Mélenchon at 16 percent. The same survey showed Bardella defeating Philippe 52 percent to 48 percent in a runoff, reversing a result from two months earlier.

On Friday, Le Pen stated that a National Rally victory would include a referendum on mass immigration. "The French people have been betrayed. In 2027, we will restore a democratic vitality to France by returning power to the people," she wrote on X.