Some candidates in France are refusing to drop out, despite being in a three-way race that could end up helping a far-right political party win a majority in the country for the first time since World War Two. Emilie Chandler is among the holdouts.

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In the first round of France's snap elections, centrist candidate Emilie Chandelier came in third place with a quarter of the votes in her constituency. The leading candidate, representing the far-right National Rally, received 34%, followed closely by the Popular Front candidate at 30%. Despite calls for Chandelier to drop out to consolidate votes against the far-right, she continues her campaign efforts.

Chandelier argues that withdrawing would hand a victory to the National Rally and betray her voters, who placed their trust in her in the first round. Her constituency in Val-d'Oise is one of approximately 100 three-way election battles in France. The National Rally, led by Maureen Le Pen, topped the parliamentary election's first round with one-third of the vote.

In a bid to prevent the far-right from gaining power, 200 third-placed candidates have withdrawn their candidacies. Local business owner Mourad El Ferdi expressed concern about the future if the National Rally gains influence, fearing it could limit opportunities for his children despite their qualifications.

Opinion polls suggest that the National Rally will fall short of an absolute majority. An Ipsos poll forecasts the National Rally will secure up to 205 seats, but 289 seats are required for a ruling majority in the National Assembly.



How three-way election battles will shape France's future

In the first round of France's snap elections, centrist Émilie Chandelier came in third place. She had a quarter of the votes in her constituency, far behind the far-right National Rally candidate leading at 34%, who was closely followed by the Popular Front candidate at 30%. Chandelier's chances of winning back her seat in Sunday's election runoff are slim, and candidates such as she are being pressed to drop out to unite voters against National Rally. But she continues to hit the campaign trail in a bid that critics say could end up helping a far-right party win a majority in France for the first time since World War II. In any case, if I had withdrawn, it would have been a gift to the National Rally. My final point is that I don't want to abandon my voters, nearly 15,000 of them, in the first round. These are people who put their trust in me. Chandelier's constituency in Val-d'Oise is one of roughly 100 three-way election battles taking place across France. Maureen Le Pen's Euro-skeptic anti-immigration National Rally topped the parliamentary election's first round with a third of the vote. In an attempt to block the far-right from holding power, 200 third-placed candidates withdrew their candidacy. Local business owner Mourad El Ferdi says he's afraid of a future with the National Rally. I'm really worried about my kids. What do you want me to say to my children, whom I encouraged to go to school and to keep on going? They're doing very, very well, but what do you want me to explain to them? That even if you've got your qualifications, the National Rally has banned you from certain jobs? How do you want me to explain the situation to them? Opinion polls suggest that the National Rally will win fewer seats than previously thought and is likely to be short of an absolute majority. An Ipsos poll forecasted the National Rally would get up to 205 seats, but for a ruling majority, 289 seats are needed in the National Assembly.

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