French PM says ‘no place for violence and intimidation’ after candidate attacked putting up election posters – Europe live

11.58am BST

The Ecologists’ Marine Tondelier has criticised the far right National Rally’s Jordan Bardella , arguing that his party is allowing some candidates who made racist, anti-Semitic and misogynistic comments to remain on the ballot.

Updated at 11.58am BST

11.21am BST

The French prosecutor’s office said it opened an investigation into an assault with a weapon against a public official, after government spokesperson and candidate Prisca Thevenot and her team were attacked yesterday, the Associated Press reported.

The office provided no indication of what the motivation of the attack was, according to the AP.

Thevenot was reportedly not injured but her deputy and a party activist were taken to a hospital.

Updated at 11.22am BST

10.59am BST

Prisca Thevenot , the government spokesperson and candidate who was attacked yesterday as she was campaigning with her team, has thanked law enforcement.

“Violence is never the answer,” she said.

10.24am BST

French voters face choice of least worst option in high-stakes election

At a market in Meyzieu, a small commune on the outskirts of Lyon, Kheira Vermorel eyed a box filled with potatoes, wondering if the sizeable spuds would be enough to soothe tensions at home.

For weeks – specifically since France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, plunged the country into shock snap elections – she and her husband had been at odds. “It’s been really hard,” she said. “I’m worried it might lead to a divorce.”

At the heart of their weeks-long dispute was the forthcoming ballot. Last election Vermorel, who moved to France from Algeria 35 years ago, voted for Macron. This time, however, she was convinced that it was time to give the political class a shake by casting her vote for the far-right, anti-immigrant National Rally (RN).

“Politicians don’t show up, they talk, they always promise things but nothing happens,” said the 54-year-old. She waved off the widespread concerns about the party’s policies that target Muslims , citing how she, a practising Muslim, had learned to balance her fate with France’s secularism.

Her French husband, however, was vehemently opposed to the party’s hardline stance on immigrants. “He tells me: ‘If migrants are here, it’s because they don’t have any other choice,’” she said, citing those who live on the streets. “And he says if they’re in that situation, it’s because they’ve lost everything.”

Read the full story here.

9.18am BST

47% of voters believe National Rally will get absolute majority: poll

A new poll from Ifop shows that 47% of voters believe the far right National Rally will win an absolute majority of seats in Sunday’s election.

15% said “certainly” and 32% said “probably”.

Updated at 9.19am BST

8.45am BST

Marine Le Pen has said that there are unacceptable comments from some National Rally candidates which will lead to sanctions but that some comments are blunders.

8.07am BST

“If I’m on CNEWS this morning, it’s because on Sunday every vote will count to prevent Jordan Bardella from entering Matignon,” the Ecologists’ Marine Tondelier said this morning.

“I would like to address myself to listeners many of whom, a priori, do not agree with me.”

CNews is part of the Canal+ group owned by the billionaire industrialist Vincent Bolloré. Critics have described it as the “French Fox News” and its debate shows often focus on issues such as immigration and crime.

Updated at 10.16am BST

8.00am BST

'Violence and intimidation have no place in our democracy', prime minister says

Late last night, the French prime minister, Gabriel Attal , said candidate Prisca Thevenot – the government spokesperson – and members of her campaign team were attacked by four individuals while putting up election posters.

“Violence and intimidation have no place in our democracy,” he said. “They have no place in our Republic,” he added, expressing his solidarity with the candidate and her team.

Jordan Bardella , leader of the far right National Rally, expressed support for Thevenot and for Marie Dauchy , a far right candidate who yesterday said she was attacked and suspending her campaign.

8.00am BST

Don't lose urgency, left wing politician says warning far right could still win absolute majority

Raphaël Glucksmann , who led the French Socialist-Place Publique list in the European elections, has cautioned against a belief that “we have saved things” already.

Speaking on France Inter, Glucksmann said there’s “extreme urgency” to prevent a victory of the far right this Sunday and that withdrawals do not automatically mean a defeat for the National Rally.

8.00am BST

Welcome to the blog

Good morning and welcome back to the Europe blog, where we will be focusing today on the latest in the French election campaign.

Send your comments to lili.bayer@theguardian.com.