Hard-left candidate Delogu drops out of Marseille’s mayoral runoff, boosting the left’s chances against the far-right National Rally in a key political test.

MARSEILLE: A hard-left candidate’s withdrawal from the Marseille mayoral runoff has dealt a blow to Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN).

Sebastien Delogu of the France Unbowed party announced his exit on Tuesday, citing the “risk” posed by the far right.

Delogu, who placed fourth in Sunday’s first round, did not explicitly endorse the left-wing incumbent.

He instead asked his supporters “not to abandon the anti-fascist struggle and our political programme”.

Outgoing mayor Benoit Payan said the decision “must have been difficult” for Delogu.

Payan warned that Marseille faced a “historic moment” and could not “lose its soul by electing an RN mayor who would lead it into a social, cultural, economic and moral catastrophe”.

The RN’s candidate, Franck Allisio, is now neck-and-neck with Payan for the second-round vote this Sunday.

The local elections are seen as a key indicator of political trends ahead of next year’s presidential race.

The RN hopes strong local results will prove its governing competence ahead of the national election.

Party leader Marine Le Pen sees the 2027 vote as its best chance yet to win power.

Centrist President Emmanuel Macron is stepping down after serving the maximum two terms.

Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of France Unbowed, praised Delogu’s “dedication to the dignity of Marseille”.

A centre-right candidate who won 12.4% of the first-round vote said on Monday she would remain in the race.

 The Sun Malaysia