France, Oct. 26 -- Philippe, whose campaign has struggled to gain momentum, is credited with 16 percent of voting intentions - down three points from the previous edition of the survey in September. Melenchon, the leader of France Unbowed, would be better placed to join Marine Le Pen in the run-off, polling at between 18.5 percent and 19.5 percent depending on the scenario tested.

Marine Le Pen, the National Rally candidate, would widen her lead over her rivals with 33 percent if Philippe were the candidate of the centrist bloc. That represents a two-point rise since September, despite Mediapart's reporting of antisemitic messages attributed to Jordan Bardella - allegations he contests.

Bardella under pressure as new evidence emerges in...