New French election poll shows Macron would pip Pecresse in 2022 vote

FILE PHOTO: French President Emmanuel Macron and Valerie Pecresse, President of the Ile-de-France region, visit a neighborhood that suffered from flooding after days of heavy rains hit the country, in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, France, February 14, 2018. REUTERS/Charles Platiau/File Photo

PARIS (Reuters) - Conservative challenger Valerie Pecresse could run French President Emmanuel Macron close in the second round of this year's election if she can squeeze past right-wing rivals in round one, an opinion poll showed on Wednesday.

The poll by Harris Interactive for the magazine Challenges makes Macron the election's likely winner, in line with recent surveys that have shown his closest opponents failing to gather momentum despite criticism of Macron's COVID-19 policies.