Marine Le Pen, the populist French leader, said on Thursday that she was preparing for an early presidential election to succeed Emmanuel Macron, who she claimed is “finished or almost finished”.

Ms Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) party became France’s largest single opposition force in the July legislative ballot that Mr Macron called after dissolving parliament when RN came first in European elections – a move widely viewed as disastrous.

It was also instrumental in bringing down the government of Michel Barnier, who was replaced last week by centrist MoDem party leader François Bayrou. He has yet to name a new government.

Speaking to Le Parisien, Ms Le Pen said: “Emmanuel Macron is finished, or almost. My comment is not intended to be cruel, it is an institutional reality.”

Ms Le Pen, a three-times presidential candidate, said this assessment was backed up by the “domestic row” over the appointment of Mr Bayrou.

It comes after reports that Mr Bayrou was not Mr Macron’s first choice for premier. Following a heated exchange at the Elysée, the veteran centrist and Macron-backer since 2017 reportedly strong-armed Macron into changing his mind by threatening to withdraw his MoDem party’s support.