Grégoire finished 12 points ahead of Dati in the first round of elections last Sunday, but the former culture minister made the race more competitive. by connecting with center-right candidate Pierre‑Yves Bournazel, who finished a disappointing fourth.
The decision of far-right MEP Sarah Knafo to withdraw from the race gave Dati another boost.
Grégoire chose not to join Chikirou on principle due to his party’s slanderous, argumentative approach for local government elections. Unbowed French leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon has caused controversy recently with his backlash. the killing of a far-right activistand later with views that were condemned as anti-Speech.
Jean-Cristophe Catalon contributed to this report.
