Marine Le Pen has hit back at opinion polls suggesting her National Rally (RN) is losing its lead in this weekend's legislative election runoff, saying the far-right party still had the capacity to secure an absolute majority in the French parliament.
The centrist forces of President Emmanuel Macron and a broad-left wing coalition have withdrawn over 200 candidates from the runoff on Sunday in a joint effort to ensure the far-right National Rally is defeated.
While the RN was ahead in the popular vote in the 30 June first round, a poll published Wednesday predicted it would now fall well short of an absolute majority in the National Assembly.
Speaking to BFMTV, Le Pen said: "I think there is still the capacity to have an absolute majority with the electorate turning out in a final effort to get what they want."
"I say turn out to vote as it's a really important moment to get a change in politics in all the areas that are making you suffer right now," she added.
Posting on X, Le Pen wrote: "We have the capacity to win an absolute majority. I call on the French people to mobilise on Sunday, to obtain a change of policy in all the areas where they are currently suffering".
Blocking the RN majority
If the RN wins an absolute majority of 289 seats in the 577-member National Assembly, it will be able to form a government with Le Pen's 28-year-old protégé Jordan Bardella as prime minister.
But she acknowledged that the "operation" by Macron's centrists and the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) coalition to withdraw candidates "had the aim of preventing the RN from having an absolute majority".
The moves have sparked speculation that a possible right-centre-left coalition could emerge after the election to hamstring the RN's influence in parliament.
Le Pen alleged that the "biggest dream" for Macron was to have a "single party" taking in all forces from the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) to right wing Republicans (LR) but excluding the RN.
Macron however made clear at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday that there was "no question" of the LFI being part of any coalition, according to a participant.
Extremist 'gaffes'
Le Pen – who is expected to make a fourth attempt to win the Elysée in 2027 – admitted there had been problems with a handful of RN candidates, one of whom had to withdraw after a picture of her emerged wearing a Nazi Luftwaffe hat.
She said: "There are been some inadmissable statements and they will involve sanctions; there are also statements that are just clumsy."
A poll by Harris Interactive has projected the RN and its allies would win 190 to 220 seats in the National Assembly, the NFP 159 to 183 seats and Macron's Ensemble (Together) alliance 110 to 135.
