French Lawmaker Injured in Évry Incident as LFI Gains in Polls

A member of the French National Assembly representing the left-wing party La France insoumise (LFI), Farida Amrani, sustained minor injuries on Saturday, November 7, when a mortar shell struck a hair salon in Évry. Authorities promptly launched an investigation into aggravated voluntary violence.

According to the local prosecutor's office, investigators are currently unable to determine whether the lawmaker was specifically targeted in the attack. The incident occurred as political tensions and polarization continued to rise across the country.

Meanwhile, political momentum for the hard-left party has drawn significant attention on the national stage. A poll published on Monday by Toluna Harris Interactive, conducted between November 3 and 5, revealed that LFI leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon has consolidated his standing ahead of the upcoming presidential election.

The survey indicates that Mélenchon is projected to reach the presidential run-off in all five tested scenarios, securing between 18% and 19% of the vote. This development marks a notable trajectory for the candidate, who previously ran for president in 2012, 2017, and 2022 without successfully advancing to the second round.

Despite his strong showing in the first-round projections, the poll suggests that far-right leader Marine Le Pen would maintain a lead in the race. Le Pen is expected to top the initial vote with 34% to 36%, down slightly from 35% to 37% in a similar poll conducted the previous month.

In a potential second-round matchup, the survey projects that Le Pen would comfortably defeat Mélenchon. Analysts attribute the growing strength of hardline political factions to the conclusion of President Emmanuel Macron's second and final five-year term, which leaves behind a weakened political center and a struggling economy.