@Walter Hinteler,
By playing poker with new elections, President Macron has opened the floodgates wide for the far right. He has been talking past his people for a long time - and many French people tend to think that the paradise they live in is hell.
Even if the far right doesn't win an absolute majority, they will still be able to fill the parliament with their bleak view of the world.
Many voters in the country are hanging on to the hope that Le Pen and her spokesman Jordan Bardella can turn their fortunes around.
Others (many!) say: they've never governed before, so let them do so for once. As if this were a normal change of power.
But Macron hardly needs to worry about that, the constitution protects his presidency: he can remain in the Élysée until the end of his term of office, until 2027, whoever wins the run-off next Sunday.
However, he will be without any charisma, like the classic lame duck.