Barely a week after municipal elections in France and about 13 months before the next presidential race, the nationalist National Rally (RN) party is drawing renewed attention in Europe's second-largest economy.

With party leader Marine Le Pen facing a possible five-year ban from holding office over alleged misuse of European Parliament funds, her protege and party president, Jordan Bardella, is widely viewed as the likely RN candidate in 2027.

A recent Harris Interactive poll shows Bardella leading a crowded field with 36% support.

His closest rival, Raphael Glucksmann — founder of the center-left Place Publique party and a European Parliament member — has 14%.

Other candidates include former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal at 13%, far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon at 11%, and center-right Sen. Bruno Retailleau.

Observers cite voter concerns over crime, immigration, and border control, as well as Bardella's personal appeal, as reasons for RN's rise.

If elected at age 30, Bardella would become France's youngest head of government since Napoleon Bonaparte.

It remains to be seen whether RN can secure a majority in a runoff, where it has historically fallen short.

An Elabe poll, however, suggests Bardella could win several second-round matchups — defeating Glucksmann 58.5% to 41.5%, Retailleau 58% to 42%, and Melenchon 71.5% to 28.5%.

The same poll shows former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe as the only tested candidate who could beat Bardella, narrowly leading him 51.5% to 48.5%.

Philippe, a center-right figure, was not included in the Harris survey.

"The results of the last municipal elections show a significant majority of voters doesn't want 'La France Insoumise' and its extremism," Laure Mandeville of Le Figaro told Newsmax.

"A Republican or other centrist figure could surge," she added.

Mandeville said Bardella and RN continue to gain momentum but cautioned that the final outcome could depend on which candidates advance to the runoff.

"Bardella and the RN are moving ahead steadily and could get to a victory, especially if Melenchon makes it to the second round," she said. "So all have won and lost something. But yes, for now, Bardella is leading clearly in the polls."

John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.