EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has reportedly ordered a case pitting Uber against the French government to be stalled to avoid boosting the chances of the far-Right Front National in next spring’s french presidential elections.

The Politico website said Mr Juncker had over-ruled colleagues because he fears that a ruling in favour of the ride-hailing app, a symbol of globalisation, might spark a populist backlash.

Marine Le Pen, whose anti-immigrant Front National is deeply eurosceptic and anti-globalisation, is predicted by nearly all recent opinion polls to make it through to the second round of France’s presidential elections next May.

Politico said Mr Juncker’s decision to overrule at least four Commissioners and hold off on the Uber case reflected his concerns about the growing appeal of populist parties in the EU.

The website’s report was based on sources briefed on the case, in which Uber has filed a complaint with the European Commission against French legislation that requires chauffeured cars to return to a base between fares and restricts their use of software to find customers in the street.