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.
Unless you're power hungry, in which case maximize *my* seats might take precedence. I'm getting the sense Macron might not just be in it to save the country from the far right...
