According to a poll conducted by the TNS Sofres-OnePoint for Le Figaro newspaper and the LCI television channel, in an assessment of nine possible combinations of presidential candidates, Hollande could gain just between 11 percent and 15 percent, while Le Pen would at least qualify for the second round of elections.
According to the poll, Le Pen’s main rivals in the first round of elections would be two members of the Republicans party — former President Nicolas Sarkozy and former Prime Minister Alain Juppe. One of the assessed scenarios stipulates that Juppe would be leading with 33 percent of support against 29 percent for Le Pen. According to a different scenario, Le Pen would lead with 29 percent, while Sarkozy would follow with 27 percent of votes.
Hollande, who has been facing wide-spread protests over the unpopular labor reform, is yet to announce whether he plans to run for another presidential term.
