France's fragmented moderate bloc fails to counter Le Pen and Mélenchon

Analysis from La Vanguardia argues that no credible moderate candidate has emerged to challenge far-right and far-left leaders Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Mélenchon in France's upcoming elections. The piece highlights the weakness and fragmentation of the centrist and Gaullist alternatives, suggesting a polarized political landscape. This matters because it could lead to a runoff between extremes, reshaping French and EU policy direction.