Incumbent President Emanuel Macron announced last month that he intends to run for a second term. His opponent in the second round since 2017, the far right Marin Lepen, had already started her campaign. Hard-left Jean-Luc Mélenchon is currently in third place. Right-wing Valérie Pécresse, representing Les Républicains, is vying with former far-right TV coach Eric Zemmour for fourth place. The polls are followed by Yannick Zando of the Greens, Fabien Roussel of the Communist Party and the Socialist candidate and mayor of Paris, Anne Indalgo. Prospective candidates had until March 4th to submit the 500 signatures of the elected officials supporting their candidacy, as required by law. A first round is scheduled for April 10, and in the unlikely event that no candidate receives a majority of the vote, a run-off will be held two weeks later, with the top two candidates in the first round. Polls suggest the second round is likely to feature Macron vs. Le Pen, in a repeat of the second round in 2017. First round polls, 7 days average —Zemour – Melancholy – Jadot – Hidalgo
Also in dispute
The list includes 12 candidates, many of whom usually fail to get more than 3% in surveys. They include Fabien Roussell of the Communist Party, who in the last weeks of the election campaign had stronger polls than the socialist candidate, Ann Indalgo. Jean Lasalle of Resistons is also running! (Resist!) Party and Nathalie Arthaud of Lutte Ouvrière (Labor Struggle), Philippe Poutou, a former Ford factory worker for the anti-capitalist Nouveau Parti Anticapitaliste, and Eurosceptic Nicolas Dupont-Aignan. Last average of 7 days (first round preferences): – The current president of France shook the country’s political scene in 2017, when he ran without the support of a major party and won. The hastily centered République en Marche party also won that year’s parliamentary elections. Macron, the former economy minister under Socialist President Francois Hollande, is seen by voters as leaning towards the center-right in power. Last average of 7 days (first round preferences): – Le Pen led a public relations effort to try to re-establish the image of the far-right National Immigration Front, which she took over from her father in 2011 and renamed the National Rally in 2018. The party’s score in the June regional elections was lower than provided after the abstention of many of its traditional voters. Le Pen, in her third term as president, is campaigning on the party’s traditional line to curb immigration and “keep France for the French”, as well as the cost-of-living crisis. Last average of 7 days (first round preferences): – Melanson is a former socialist who has supported various leftist groups since leaving the party. He ran in the previous two presidential elections, winning more than 10% of the vote each time and more than the Socialist candidate in 2017. Last average of 7 days (first round preferences): – Pécresse was the budget minister under Nicolas Sarkozy and is currently the president of the Ile-de-France region, which includes the French capital and the surrounding area. She describes herself as “two-thirds of Angela Merkel and one-third of Margaret Thatcher” and has focused on crime, immigration and the economy. It is the choice of Les Républicains, after winning their qualifiers on December 4th. Last average of 7 days (first round preferences): – Zemmour is a far-right television expert who has been convicted in the past of inciting racial hatred and promotes controversial views such as the “big replacement” theory that Muslim immigrants will “replace” the populations of European countries. Last average of 7 days (first round preferences): – Jadot is the Green candidate. In the 2017 presidential election, he withdrew in favor of the socialist Benoît Hamon. Last average of 7 days (first round preferences): – Hidalgo is the first woman mayor of Paris and is in her second term. It is best known for its campaign to reduce the number of cars in the French capital. As a candidate for the presidency of the Socialist Party, she has pointed out her labor, immigration roots, promising to improve salaries, especially for teachers.
What about the second round?
French polls also ask respondents how they would vote in a hypothetical second round. For obvious reasons, they are focusing on what currently seems to be the most likely scenario, the resumption of the Macron-Le Pen vote in 2017. This article is regularly updated to ensure that it reflects the current situation as well as possible. Significant corrections made to it or to earlier versions of the article will continue to be made in accordance with the Guardian’s editorial policy.
