Far-right National Rally at 36%, New Popular Front at 29%: pollA new poll by IFOP, published this afternoon, puts the far-right National Rally at 36% for Sunday’s first round of the election in France. It is followed by the left-wing New Popular Front at 29%.Emmanuel Macron’s allies are at 21%, according to the poll.With only days to go until the closely-watched election, representatives of three political groups – Gabriel Attal, Jordan Bardella and Olivier Faure – will debate this evening on France 2.Meanwhile, EU leaders are meeting in Brussels, where the French election is not formally a matter for discussion but could end up having an impact on policymaking over the coming months.Stay tuned for coverage of the debate later today.ShareUpdated at 16.38 BSTKey events1h agoBardella and Attal clash at French pre-election debate1h agoFrench debate begins2h agoFrench politicians arrive for pre-election debate4h agoFar-right National Rally at 36%, New Popular Front at 29%: poll5h ago’Our support is not a blank check’, socialist leader says6h ago’Sometimes the soup is not eaten at the same temperature that it is being served’, outgoing Belgian PM says6h agoCzech, German and Polish leaders call for more support for countries with Ukrainian refugees6h ago’No Europe without Italy’: EU leaders launch charm offensive to win over Meloni7h ago’European voters have been deceived,’ Hungarian prime minister says7h ago’This is Europe’s historic choice’: Zelenskiy addresses EU leaders7h agoOrbán says Hungary won’t support top jobs deal7h agoSigning ceremony underway7h ago’All 27 are equally important’, German chancellor says amid Meloni’s concerns7h ago’Clear messages’ from elections, Metsola says8h ago’Suspend the Hungarian Presidency’: 20,000 people raise concerns about Orbán8h ago’Clear consensus’ for von der Leyen, Harris says8h agoHarris underscores Ukraine support, EU competitiveness8h agoZelenskiy to sign security agreements in Brussels9h ago’We have to work on next steps’: Zelenskiy arrives at Brussels summit9h agoEU leaders to discuss Ukraine9h agoWelcome to the blogShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureGabriel Attal has criticise Jordan Bardella over National Rally’s rhetoric on dual nationals.Bardella had earlier said that if his party wins an absolute majority in parliament, people with dual nationality would be excluded from “the most strategic posts of state”, which would be reserved for French citizens.ShareOlivier Faure and Jordan Bardella are clashing over immigration.ShareThe debate is heated, with the politicians speaking over each other.ShareThe far-right National Rally’s Jordan Bardella said he believes the current realities of immigration are not tenable.The party has said it intends to scrap nationality rights for children born and raised in France by foreign parents.ShareUpdated at 20.21 BSTThe French pre-election debate is moving to the themes of immigration and security.ShareUpdated at 20.17 BSTGabriel Attal has criticised both Jordan Bardella and Olivier Faure over energy policy.There’s a need to invest in both nuclear and renewable energy, Attal said.ShareJordan Bardella has called for investing more in nuclear energy.ShareThe French debate is moving to the issue of the environment and ecology.ShareMeanwhile at the EU leaders’ summit…After their discussion on the Middle East, the leaders updated their draft written conclusions, “recalling the need to implement the ICJ Order of 24 May 2024, the European Council expresses deep concern about the consequences on the civilian population of the ongoing ground operations in Rafah,” according to a document seen by the Guardian.The leaders also updated the draft to state that the council “welcomes the sustained efforts by Jordan and Egypt to de-escalate the crisis, including the humanitarian conference held in Jordan on 11 June 2024.”ShareOne issue under discussion is VAT. The National Rally has argued in favour of reducing VAT on electricity, gas, heating oil and fuel.ShareThe debate is moving on to issues impacting citizens’ daily lives – including consumer prices.ShareThe mood of the French pre-election debate is combative, with politicians repeatedly interrupting each other.ShareUpdated at 19.46 BSTJordan Bardella, from the far-right National Rally, said that the prime minister has a budgetary role when it comes to the military.He said his position is support for Ukraine and avoiding an escalation with Russia.ShareUpdated at 19.43 BSTOlivier Faure, from the left-wing New Popular Front, called for continuing to support Ukraine.But he also criticised Emmanuel Macron, who had refused to rule out sending ground troops to Ukraine.ShareUpdated at 19.38 BSTThe debate is now moving to the subject of Ukraine.First Secretary of the French left-wing Socialist Party (PS) and member of parliament Olivier Faure (2L), French far-right Rassemblement National (RN) party President and lead MEP Jordan Bardella (L) and French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal (2R). Photograph: Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty ImagesShareUpdated at 20.24 BSTOlivier Faure called for cohesion and justice.Le gouvernement est resté sourd aux fractures françaises. Pour retrouver de la cohésion, il faut de la justice. Quand il n’y a pas de justice, pas de démocratie, on divise. Il y a une autre voie possible.#VotezNFP pic.twitter.com/VmXhbxJjEY— Olivier Faure (@faureolivier) June 27, 2024

ShareUpdated at 19.59 BSTBardella and Attal clash at French pre-election debateJordan Bardella said he would re-establish the authority of the state.Gabriel Attal responded that Bardella can’t present himself as a uniter when his program includes stigmatisation. The prime minister also accused members of the National Rally of engaging in hate speech.Bardella denied this.The two began going back and forth, with the moderator trying to interject.Plus d’une centaine de candidats du Rassemblement national, soit près d’un sur cinq, ont tenu des propos racistes, antisémites ou homophobes. Nous devons être intraitables face à la haine. pic.twitter.com/28xJblhH5n— Gabriel Attal (@GabrielAttal) June 27, 2024

Olivier Faure, Jordan Bardella and Gabriel Attal take part in a political debate. Photograph: Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty ImagesShareUpdated at 20.19 BSTThe French far-right National Rally’s Jordan Bardella called the upcoming election decisive.He said he wants to become the prime minister of all French people, and that he wants to unite the country.Bardella said he wants to put daily life in focus: purchasing power and security.The far-right politician said his government would include people from outside the National Rally.ShareUpdated at 19.23 BSTGabriel Attal, France’s prime minister and a Macron ally, says in the debate that citizens have sent a clear message in the European elections.Citizens care about purchasing power and governance, he said.ShareUpdated at 19.20 BST