The stakes are potentially even higher after Emmanuel Macron, Hollande’s former Economy Minister, announced on Wednesday he would run for the presidency, without submitting himself to the socialist party’s primary first. With high approval ratings, Macron - who describes himself as neither conservative nor socialist - will take votes from the socialist candidate if he goes through with his plan. This could potentially destroy any chance of the Left getting through to the second round and guarantee a showdown between the conservative candidate and Marine Le Pen.

Neila Latrous, political correspondent for the French news channel BFM TV, explained: “All the candidates are campaigning on the idea: ‘I am the best defence against Marine Le Pen’. But what they are thinking is that to win, the easiest would be to face her in the second round of the election.” The polls have indeed never shown her in a position to win the election against either a socialist or a conservative candidate.