France election: Far-left Melenchon enjoys late poll surge

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


Angela Charlton, Associated Press
Updated 5:57 am, Wednesday, April 12, 2017


PARIS (AP) — With a bleed-the-rich video game and suggestions of a "Frexit," French far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon is rattling financial markets by swelling in polls just 11 days before the presidential vote.

Melenchon's rise is the latest surprise in a roller-coaster campaign that's being closely watched around Europe, and in which anti-establishment populism has played a starring role.
 
Most polling agencies still show that centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen are leading ahead of the April 23 first round, with the top two advancing to the May 7 runoff. Melenchon, once a distant fifth place, has risen in recent polls to roughly third, around even with conservative Francois Fillon.

Melenchon's sharp-tongued wit and unconventional views during the two presidential debates helped boost his standing among an electorate frustrated with traditional left and right parties that have failed to create jobs or pull France out of economic stagnation.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/world/article/France-election-Far-left-Melenchon-enjoys-late-11067566.php

[NYC Democrat]

1. I can't support this guy due to his foreign policy, anti-EU, Anti-NATO, Pro Russia.

Basically a Left Wing Nationalist, that kind of mega isolationist policy is hopeless naive and non-workable in the modern world and that makes him just as dangerous to global stability as Le Pen.

And what the hell is with Populist embracing Russia on the left and right?

[LittleBlue]

2. A Melenchon/Le Pen 2nd round means possible Frexit

Both seek a referendum on Frexit, and it's uncertain which way French voters would go. Plus Melenchon apparently admires Hugo Chavez. Le Pen is basically Putin's pet.

Bad news for France if those are the two choices in the runoff.