Stocks and euro rise as some second-round candidates could be withdrawn to try to boost vote against far right
Also in this newsletter: the Socialists’ message to Ursula von der Leyen
President Emmanuel Macron’s centrists fall to third place behind leftwing alliance
Millions will have to opt between supporting the far right or a bloc dominated by the far left in parliamentary elections
Follow the first round of National Assembly voting in maps and charts
The party leader anointed her youthful protégé as prime minister in waiting but office may come sooner than either expected
Almost 60% of votes already cast by late afternoon, the highest turnout in nearly four decades
Certaines entreprises courtisent le parti de Le Pen malgré les inquiétudes concernant sa réputation et son engagement à travailler avec l’exécutif dans un gouvernement partagé
Some businesses court Le Pen’s party despite lingering concerns about its reputation and commitment to work with executive in a shared government
Fund manager expects political gridlock and market discipline to limit ‘meaningfully’ what Rassemblement National can do
Emmanuel Macron wanted to save France from the far right. It has never been closer to power
Party chief ‘convinced’ Rassemblement National will secure an outright parliamentary majority in snap elections
Macron’s Ensemble heads into last week of campaigning before first-round vote trailing far-right and leftwing rivals
L’extrême droite se rapproche du pouvoir et la gauche radicale évoque l’esprit de 1936, aux dépens du bloc centriste
In some ways it already has, argues political scientist Olivier Roy
Surveys suggest French centrists are gaining ground, but still behind far-right party and leftwing bloc
For three decades the French football team has been the instrument for a national debate on race
The chief risk is not reckless far-right economic policies but a president and prime minister so at odds that chaos follows
Both political forces have lavish spending plans that are spooking investors
Corporate leaders are more alarmed by leftwing alliance’s radical tax agenda than unfunded promises of far-right RN
Attitudes to democracy and the rule of law will define the distinctions in politics
Once consigned to the fringes, French voters now have to decide if they are ready to hand power to Marine Le Pen’s party
Cac 40 down more than 6% since Macron called election, with big spending plans likely to be favoured by new parliament
RN’s economic programme could be twice as costly as tax cuts by former UK premier Liz Truss
Also in this newsletter: companies struggle to prepare for environmental reporting rules
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