It’s decision day for many centrist and leftist candidates who have qualified for the second round. Do they stay in the race? Or drop out in order to forge an alliance against Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally.
For many, it’s a case of having to pick their poison. It’s a particularly painful dilemma for Macron allies. In order to stop Le Pen, many will have to throw their support behind radical-left candidates they view with nearly as much contempt. Leftist candidates are also by no means thrilled at the prospect of working with Macron’s liberals, who espouse economic views anathema to the left.
Candidates who have qualified for the second round have until Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. CEST to register their candidacies. That means the decisions they make today could determine the outcome of the second-round vote on Sunday — and whether France elects a far-right government for the first time in the modern republic’s history.
Stick with us as we follow the latest developments throughout the day.