Overview
- Recent polls by Elabe tested 12–13 November show Marine Le Pen polling about 31–33% and Jean‑Luc Mélenchon rising to roughly 17–18.5% in first‑round scenarios.
- Vincent Jeanbrun on 14 November proposed an experimental six‑week open elimination primary called "La grande convergence" with weekly themed debates and votes running from 30 November to 10 January.
- Senate president Gérard Larcher has invited right and centre candidates to meet to agree a method for selecting one nominee early next year and campaign directors for Attal, Lisnard and Retailleau will meet on 17 November to discuss options.
- Bruno Retailleau reversed his earlier opposition and on 15 November called for a primary by early February open to sympathizers while Édouard Philippe continues to refuse participation.
- Polls and targeted surveys show weak vote transfers for some first‑round supporters—Toluna found only 26% of Raphaël Glucksmann voters would back Mélenchon in a Le Pen–Mélenchon second round—which raises concerns that abstentions or blank votes could shape the final outcome.