Overview

• Éric Ciotti, former LR leader now aligned with the RN, has endorsed Arnaud Sanvert in the Saône-et-Loire by-election runoff.
• Ciotti condemned the cross-party 'front républicain' opposing the RN as an unnatural coalition, calling it the 'alliance de la honte.'
• Sanvert, whose 2024 election was annulled for vote-count irregularities, leads the runoff with 32% from the first round against Sébastien Martin's 25.6%.
• Turnout in the first round dropped sharply to 32.73%, half of last year's participation, posing a challenge for Sanvert to boost voter mobilization.
• The divided left failed to advance to the runoff, with both LFI and PS candidates urging voters to block the RN in the second round.