How France embraced the far right – and what it means for the 2022 election

According to a recent Ipsos poll, only 25 percent of French people say France is not in decline, and a heft majority of 62 percent said they don’t feel at home like they used to.

The poll found 64 percent believed there are too many immigrants, and 79 percent think there is a need for a strong leader to reestablish law and order.

Other candidates, clearly shaken by the success of Mr Zemmour so far, have been moving their positions to align closer, but not as far to the right.

Valérie Pécresse, currently the president of the Ile-de-France region, has been working to unite the most right-wing in the Les Républicains party to give her the best chance of beating either of the far-right candidates and Mr Macron.