Alarm bells for Macron amid poll boost for left, headed by firebrand Mélenchon:

France's rejuvenated left-wing parties appear to be gaining ground on President Emmanuel Macron's centrist allies ahead of parliamentary elections later this month, raising fears for the ruling party that it may fail to secure a majority.

A new poll, published late Wednesday by the Ifop-Fiducial group, suggested Macron's Ensemble ("Together") coalition would win 275-310 seats in the vote, possibly below the 289 needed for a majority.

The first round will be held on June 12 and the second one week later on June 19. It is only then that the shape of the new parliament will be clear.