UPDATE: What is happening in France today?
Left candidates who came in 3rd are dropping out of the runoffs to block the far-right.
*Many* Macronists, including incumbents, are doing the same when they came in third. But... many said they won't. (I'd say about half/half right now? Deadline tmrw.)
THE sentence of the day: A Macronist incumbent in the Marseille region came in 3rd in her seat. She just dropped out to support the left. She said, about why she's maneuvering to block the far-right:
"Defeats happen, but you can never recover from dishonor."
Another example of Macronists dropping out (the big thing to watch today):
The "Hautes-Alpes" has 2 seats, both currently held by Macron's party.
Yesterday, Macron's candidates arrived third in each district, behind the RN & the PS. They've both said they're dropping out.
But, again, some Macronists are not dropping out at this hour in places where they are third & RN can win.
See these two districts as example. Far-right under 35% in each... but that'd be enough in a 3-way.
A Macronist who came in 3rd place in southern France says he is dropping out to block the far-right.
Results here: RN 36%, left 29%, Macronist 25%.
What's interesting...: He said as he dropped out that he got calls to *not* do so, including from Macron.
lemonde.fr/politique/li...
Is there a reason Macron doesn't want to work with the left to block the far right?
Seems like "maximize non right wing seats" via coalition would be the no brainer option.