Archive · 28 Sep 2026
Poll Puts Le Pen and Melenchon in French Run-Off
A poll looked at who might do well in France’s next presidential election.
It found that Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Melenchon could reach the final round.
Le Pen leads the far-right National Rally party.
Melenchon represents the left-wing France Unbowed party.
Le Pen was predicted to get the most votes in the first round.
Centrist candidate Edouard Philippe was predicted to finish behind them.
The poll showed Le Pen winning against either possible opponent in the final round.
The survey took place as voters faced concerns about prices, the economy, and international tensions.
Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Melenchon were projected to reach the presidential run-off in all five poll scenarios.
Le Pen was projected to win 35% to 36% in the first round, up from 33% in an earlier poll.
Melenchon was projected to receive between 17% and 18% of first-round votes.
Centrist candidate Edouard Philippe was projected to receive 13% to 16%, falling short of the run-off.
Le Pen was projected to defeat Melenchon or Philippe in the second round, with margins of 69% and 57%, respectively.
- Who
- Marine Le Pen, Jean-Luc Melenchon, and centrist candidate Edouard Philippe.
- What
- A Toluna Harris Interactive poll projected Le Pen and Melenchon reaching the presidential election run-off.
- When
- The poll was conducted from September 22 to 24 and published on September 28; the election is scheduled for next April and May.
- Where
- France.
- Why
- The poll indicated growing support for candidates on the political extremes amid rising prices, a sluggish economy, and geopolitical instability.
- Pollster
- Toluna Harris Interactive
- Commissioned for
- French television channel M6 and Luxembourg-based media group RTL
- First-round leader
- Marine Le Pen, projected at 35% to 36%
- Melenchon projection
- 17% to 18% in the first round
- Philippe projection
- 13% to 16% in the first round
- Projected second-round result
- Le Pen was projected to receive 69% against Melenchon and 57% against Philippe