France’s centre has one question: who can beat Marine Le Pen?
Seven months out, presidential candidates are lacklustre and there are too many of them
As France's presidential election looms in April and May, the race has narrowed down to one crucial question: who has the potential to defeat Marine Le Pen? The populist-right National Rally (RN) leader, who began her campaign on September 13th, enjoys a significant advantage in polls, securing 32-36% in the first round, a margin of at least 13 points over her closest rival, Edouard Philippe, a former prime minister. In three run-off scenarios, Le Pen emerges victorious.
French polls are not always accurate, but Le Pen's consistent lead throughout the campaign season has raised concerns for the country's political centre. This centre encompasses a range of political parties, from the Socialists on the left to the Republicans on the right, and comprises at least 15 candidates. However, the lack of unity within the centre has made it difficult for any candidate to secure enough support to advance to the run-off.
The struggle of the centre is not unique to France. Populist-right parties have been gaining ground in many democracies, but successful centrists have managed to overcome this challenge. To do so, they must possess three key attributes: energy, rebellion or perceived outsider status, and the ability to create memorable initiatives on issues that resonate with voters.
Written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times - World News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
