Sawt Falasteen - French campaign sharpens as far right accuses left over civil disobedience calls

With fewer than eight months before voting, Le Pen, 58, leads opinion polls. Recent surveys indicate that France Unbowed leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon may be best placed to reach a run-off against her as support grows for parties outside the political centre.

At an agricultural fair in Châlons-en-Champagne on August 29, Bardella criticised France Unbowed parliamentary leader Mathilde Panot and Greens leader Marine Tondelier for saying they would support civil disobedience after a National Rally victory. Bardella, 30, who is Le Pen’s preferred prime minister, said those statements challenged democratic institutions. His comments were political accusations in an increasingly confrontational campaign.

Mélenchon, 75, said during an August 27 debate that France should disobey European decisions conflicting with voters’ wishes and repeated a proposal to cancel part of the public debt. Bardella responded that France Unbowed intended to destroy institutions. Analysts say a crowded field across the centre-left, centre, centre-right and right could split moderate votes.

Republicans candidate Bruno Retailleau said he would not withdraw for former prime minister Édouard Philippe or another contender, adding that some supporters might switch to the far right if he did. A Le Pen victory would make her France’s first far-right national leader since the Second World War.

A Medef survey found 82 per cent of French business leaders pessimistic about the next president’s economic impact. TotalEnergies chief executive Patrick Pouyanné said a Le Pen-Mélenchon run-off would pose risks, particularly through proposals he considered irresponsible for public finances.

J.AbuHassan--SF-PST