Macron alarmed as French far-right surges in popularity

French President Emmanuel Macron finds himself increasingly concerned as the far-right National Rally party continues to gain traction in popularity, according to reports from the European bureau of Politico, citing inside sources.

Macron's strategy ahead of the upcoming EU elections aimed to confront the escalating rise of the National Rally by emphasizing the ideological clash and highlighting the perceived threat posed by Russia. Politico reports that Macron's plan sought to both rally abstainers and mobilize his own supporters, while simultaneously discouraging them from turning towards rival pro-European candidates such as socialist Raphaël Glucksmann and environmentalists.

Despite these efforts, several weeks into the campaign, Macron's strategy appears to have fallen short. Polls indicate that the far-right, under the leadership of National Rally president Jordan Bardella, commands 30 per cent of the vote, compared to Macron's Renewal coalition, which trails at 21 per cent.

As Macron faces dwindling popularity ratings and grapples with a mounting budget deficit, he and his party are confronted with a challenging battle to regain support, as highlighted by the publication.

Privately, Macron has reportedly expressed his frustrations with the election campaign to his allies. Recently, he convened a meeting at the Elysee Palace, attended by key figures including Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné and campaign manager Pieyre-Alexandre Anglade. According to sources cited by the publication, Macron urged them to better safeguard the reputation of members of the European Parliament.