Last dance Rival parties scramble to unite against the far right

France's left and centrist parties are scrambling to cobble together a united front. Rival parties were engaged in frantic bargaining and tactical voting plans on Monday in an attempt to stop the rise of Marine Le Pen's National Rally's (RN).

-  Angelique Chrisafis

In the past, the traditional right and leftwing parties have struck agreements to stand down candidates from the runoffs to avoid splitting the vote against the RN. But the tactical voting strategy known as the "republican front" is less certain than ever.

Leaders of President Emmanuel Macron's centrist alliance and the New Popular Front alliance (NFP) indicated they would withdraw their own candidates in districts where another candidate was better placed to beat the RN.

In a written statement, Macron called on voters to rally behind candidates who are "clearly republican and democratic", which, based on his recent declarations, would exclude candidates from the RN and from the France Unbowed (LFI) party of JeanLuc Mélenchon, which is a key member of the NFP alliance. But the left said Macron's position, and that of his centrists, had to be made more clear.

The prime minister, Gabriel Attal, who is likely to be forced to resign, warned the far right was at the "gates of power" and said the RN should not get a "single vote" in the second round.