Polls set to close with far right expected to win most seats

Polls set to close with far right expected to win most seats

The mood among French executives and investors attending the annual Les Rencontres Économiques conference was downbeat ahead of the second round of voting, as they lamented the lack of good outcomes on offer.

“Everyone has their foot on the brakes right now — clients, investors, companies,” said one tech executive, who added that he would look at growing his business outside France in the coming years.

“There are no good options, but we will navigate the outcomes,” said another executive at a Cac 40 listed company.

Economists at Allianz predicted half a percentage point would be knocked off French GDP growth in 2025 regardless of the outcome.