The French Left Alliance and Macron's party have announced plans to withdraw their third-placed candidates in races where Marine Le Pen's National Rally party is leading. This strategic move aims to maximize the chances of other candidates defeating Le Pen's party in the second round of elections. Edouard Phillipe, former Prime Minister and head of a party in Macron's alliance, confirmed his party's withdrawal to prevent radical candidates from winning seats. Jean-Luc Melenchon, chief of the left-wing party, declared that the National Rally will not be allowed to win anywhere.
JUST IN: Macron's party says it will withdraw third-placed candidates to maximise chances of other candidates beating Marine Le Pen's party in the second round
BREAKING: Macron's party says it will withdraw third-placed candidates to maximise chances of other candidates beating Marine Le Pen's party in the second round
BREAKING: Major parties start planning to tactically withdraw candidates for second round of France's election, left-wing party chief Jean-Luc Melenchon says 'Nowhere will we allow the National Rally to win'
Edouard Phillipe, a former PM and head of one of the parties in Macron's alliance says his party will withdraw candidates to prevent radical candidates from winning a seat (which is directed at Mélanchon's LFI and Le Pen's RN)
FRENCH LEFT ALLIANCE: WILL WITHDRAW CANDIDATES TO BLOCK LE PEN
The far-left announced they’re pulling back their candidates in any race where Le Pen’s party is in first place. Uncertain if Macron’s party will do the same, but this is how French parties blocked the National Rally from winning seats in the past.