Almost two thirds of respondents to an online poll of supporters of presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon said they’d abstain or cast a blank ballot in the second round of voting in the French presidential election, the movement said on Tuesday, May 2.
The poll did not allow an “Other” option, or the ability to opt for Marine Le Pen. A member of the far-right Front National (National Front) party, Le Pen is Emmanuel Macron‘s opponent in the May 7 run-off vote.
243,128 people participated in the poll which closed at noon on Tuesday.
- 87,818 (36.12%) said they would cast a blank vote
- 84,682 (34.83%) said they would vote for Emmanuel Macron
- 70,628 (29.05%) said they would abstain from voting
Only people registered with La France Insoumise (Unsubmissive France) movement’s website by 10pm on April 23 were able to participate in the poll. Around 440,000 people were registered at that time.
Mélenchon, who came fourth in the first round vote with around 20% of ballots cast, is leader of La France Insoumise, and his candidacy was endorsed by the Front de Gauche (Left Front) which includes the Parti de Gauche (Left Party) and the French Communist party.
He said he would not endorse either second-round candidate and would instead ask his supporters.
Macron has a 18 percentage point lead over Le Pen according to two recent polls.
France: Support for #Macron (EM-*) in run-off scenario against #LePen (FN-ENF) has been declining s 1st round (poll of polls). pic.twitter.com/N2ds9xucDR
— Europe Elects (@EuropeElects) May 1, 2017