Presidential election

French prosecutors call to make Le Pen ineligible in 2027 election

The sentence depends on if the court agrees, and how it would hand down the ruling if so

‘Marine Le Pen will be the woman to beat in 2027 French election’

As Marine Le Pen is replaced by Jordan Bardella as president of her Rassemblement National party, this does not mean she will be taking a step back, says Simon Heffer

French election votes annulled as cast in church confession box

It was judged that the location ‘undermined the freedom’ of the vote in the tiny village. A former candidate also caused the same issue by publicly announcing that he was not voting

news

Did you know: France's president was not always elected by the people

Until 1962 the president was chosen by an electoral college of 80,000 officials including MPs and senators, mayors and some other local councillors

French elections: Sarkozy announces support for Macron in second round

The former president called for voters to rally round the incumbent president, who he said was ‘the only one in position to act’

Who gets the vote of the ten non-qualifier French election candidates?

We look at who the losing candidates of the first round are now supporting - Emmanuel Macron or Marine Le Pen - although some are supporting neither. One candidate is keeping his view secret

Expressions you may hear in the lead up to final French election vote

‘Vote utile’ and ’faire barrage’ are often used by politicians and commentators

‘Problems for organic veg’ and other coded French election messages

A series of Tweets from ‘Radio Londres’ hinted at candidates’ chances ahead of the 20:00 first results in a satirical take on the real wartime message service

French ski station offers passes at €1 to voters, to limit abstention

The Alps station is offering a saving of €36.40 to anyone who can prove they have voted in the first round of the presidential elections today

Can you vote by proxy in French presidential elections?

We look at the steps to take if you wish someone else to go to vote on your behalf

America’s selfie influence on France’s presidential election posters

We look at all 12 candidates’ posters and translate their slogans. A communications expert reviews the strength of their messages

Macron-Le Pen gap, end of tradition: Six key points of French election

The race to win is not the only story this year, with the future of two traditional parties in the balance, a possible record for the Greens and the fate of outsider Zemmour all to be decided

French election: Why abstentions will hit Le Pen and Mélenchon hardest

Several experts predict that this year might break the record for the rate of abstentions, linked to complacency and disillusionment

French site pairs foreigners who want to vote with election abstainers

Alter-votants helped 1,000 foreigners vote in the 2017 presidential elections by matching them with French nationals. The site hopes to beat that number this month

Former French PM says Le Pen can win, Zemmour makes her look moderate

Former Prime Minister Manuel Valls has warned that ‘populist and contradictory’ Le Pen could win the upcoming election despite ‘having no vision for France’

Why does ‘left-wing’ France vote for election candidates on the Right?

High levels of social support make France look ‘left-wing’, but experts tell us why voting trends and ideologies have been moving Right since the 1970s

Immigration, residency: The policies of French election candidates

Which candidates would make it harder – or easier – for foreigners to settle in France? We also look at what some say about language tests and dual citizenship

People with Covid will be able to vote in French presidential election

‘Voting is a constitutional right’ which should not be compromised, France’s government spokesperson has said

Comment: Macron election win would prove poor state of French politics

When he eventually got around to revealing his manifesto, barely three weeks before the first round, it was fabulously uninspiring

France presidential election 2022: Official campaigns begin tomorrow

As the country gears up for the pre-election period, we summarise the key moments ahead and the most recent news from some of the high-profile candidates

French election candidates meet hunters: what are they proposing?

Two candidates were deliberately not invited to the hunting union’s congress, having been accused of ‘spitting’ on the activity and creating opposition to it

How do people in your French region typically vote and why?

We look at French voting maps for presidential elections dating back to 1965 – and how an area’s soil type may play a part

Comment: Macron wrong to use EDF for French re-election votes

A Connexion reader challenges Macron’s ‘absurd’ vote winning strategy: EDF electricity price cap, profit losses and staff strikes

Macron details reelection plan amid criticism of his refusal to debate

The president spoke on everything from pensions to defence, cyberbullying to elderly care homes, as he faces growing condemnation for his refusal to debate with other candidates

French election candidates have to declare their wealth: Here it is

Amounts range from €9.7million for Valérie Pécresse, via €550,000 for Emmanuel Macron to €122,000 for Philippe Poutou

French presidential election: Which candidate does your mayor support?

You can check which of the final 12 candidates they backed with an online tool

End of TV licence fee, food cheques: Macron’s promises if re-elected

The president/candidate has also pledged caps on energy price rises and a ‘four pact’ plan on Europe, employment, immigration, and security

‘When I am president’: The key policies of final 12 French candidates

We look at the 12 names on the voting slips this April, and what each candidate stands for

Animal rights candidate lacks support to stand in French election

‘France has built a culture that prides itself on animal-cruelty - take the example at foie-gras,’ Hélène Thouy tells The Connexion

Continuity key theme as Macron finally declares candidacy in letter

We look at what he is promising for another five years as president and how his rivals have reacted

Election in France: Pay, tax cuts, energy – what candidates promise

With the first round of the presidential election set to take place on April 10, we look at the campaign pledges of some of the leading hopefuls

French election: Leftist Mélenchon reaches 500 backers with week left

It means he is now officially a candidate in the election. He has said he is relieved to pass the threshold before the deadline on March 4

Simon Heffer: Macron probably won a second term on February 13

Valérie Pécresse has simply failed to inspire

French presidential election: Voter registration deadline approaches

People with the right to vote have until March 2, or March 4. We look at who can vote and how to register

Has France entered period of decline as some election hopefuls claim?

Ahead of the vote in April, Nick Inman shares his opinion on why speaking about decline is not so simple

‘Why the ‘great replacement’ theory does not make sense in France’

The term, which refers to a conspiracy theory that claims white people are being replaced, was recently used by one of France’s presidential candidates, but does not hold up, a French statistician says

French election: Trotskyist candidate passes 500 signatures threshold

Candidates must get backing from enough elected officials by March 4 to officially stand. Far-right prospects Le Pen and Zemmour are still a couple of hundred names short

French far-right election candidate relaunches school uniform debate

Eric Zemmour said they were needed as part of a ‘return to excellence’. We look at the history of school uniforms in France

Which French election candidate does your mayor support? How to check

Presidential hopefuls must gather 500 signatures each from elected officials to be able to stand. The first count has just been revealed

1,400 experts say French presidential candidates must address climate

A new open letter calls on them to stop the “discourse of inaction”, stating that voters have the right to know what measures they will take to tackle the crisis

Christiane Taubira wins the French left’s citizen vote: what now?

Leading law professor says the Primaire populaire online opinion poll initiative is an interesting new model for politics

‘Beer Party’ launches in France, one of many quirky political parties

Le Parti de la Bière started as a joke but now has the serious aim of raising concerns over artisanal jobs and industry challenges

French election candidate Eric Zemmour found guilty of hate speech

The far-right polemicist has been fined €10,000 for comments he made about unaccompanied migrant children

France’s far-left holds election rally with ‘smell and visual effects’

Jean-Luc Mélenchon said his election goals included helping France ‘take part in the history of humanity’ and ‘get out of nuclear power’

Zemmour sparks outcry in France with ‘special needs schools’ remark

Far-right presidential election candidate widenly condemned from across the political spectrum with his comments labelled ‘miserable, brutal, discriminatory’ and ‘ignorant’

Signatures, power transfer: key dates for French presidential election

The two rounds of voting for France’s next president are scheduled for April 10 and April 24 - but these are not the only important dates.

French presidential election: Key candidates and their main policies

Before candidates can be added to the official list, they need the support of 500 elected officials, not such an easy task for the more radical ones

Election poll sees Macron ahead 90 days from vote - but is often wrong

The president is currently predicted to gain 55% or more in the second round. Historically though polls at this stage have frequently been incorrect

Tinder-style app matches user with ideal French presidential candidate

Elyze allows users to swipe left or right like with Tinder to agree or disagree with a series of policies. It is now the second-most popular free app in France

French presidential candidate Zemmour: key points of heated TV debate

Ready for conflict, Islamic civil war has ‘already begun,’ controversy over #MeToo, and removal of notaire fees so hard-up young people can buy homes: we summarise some of the main points

When will we know candidates for 2022 French presidential election?

We look at the procedure and key dates in the lead up to the final election night

Election 2022, Telethon, tests to visit France: 5 Monday updates

Our weekend new roundup: Right- and left-wing political rallies, almost €74m raised for charity, Covid tests for non-EU arrivals, and the death of a pioneering-but-controversial environmentalist

Right-wing Valérie Pécresse voted presidential candidate for 2022 run

Ms Pécresse, who has termed herself ‘two-thirds Merkel and one-third Thatcher’ will run in next year’s presidential election, and will be the party’s first-ever female candidate

500 signature rule: Zemmour may struggle to stay election candidate

The right-wing polemicist declared his candidacy for the 2022 elections this week, but he still needs the backing of 500 elected representatives - a necessity for all presidential candidates

‘Zemmour pirated images of our home for presidential bid announcement’

The owner of a château pictured in a video published yesterday by far-right commentator Éric Zemmour said he was ‘stunned’ by the images as he had not been contacted for permission to use them

Zemmour announces presidential candidacy saying he will ‘save France’

Earlier today the far-right polemicist was described as a 'Trump ordered on [cheap shopping site] Wish' by the official French government spokesperson

Simon Heffer: Zemmour would be no threat if Macron makes second round

'Could Eric Zemmour do an Emmanuel Macron? That is, could a man without a party become president of France, largely on a protest vote, as Mr Macron did in 2017?'

Opinion: ‘France now has more political parties than types of cheese’

If votes are spread too thinly across numerous candidates in the 2022 election, then terrible governance is the likely result, writes Nabila Ramdani in her monthly Connexion column

Animal suffering becomes a key presidential election topic in France

A new shock video released by an animal welfare foundation calls on candidates to commit to improving the lot of animals and to stop being deaf to their suffering

2022 French Presidential candidates divided over nuclear energy

Candidates on the left and right have spoken out about the future of energy in France, and whether nuclear energy should still be used

France’s 2022 presidential election hopefuls race to find 500 backers

The election takes place in April but in order to stand candidates need the backing of 500 elected representatives. We explain the system and how the main candidates fared in a recent poll

EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier announces French presidential bid

The 70-year-old, whose policies would include ‘limiting and taking control over immigration’, joins several other candidates in the centre-right field

Marine Le Pen reelected head of RN and restates presidential plans

The far-right leader won the election with more than 98% of the vote, and used her party conference to reaffirm her goal to become French president in 2022

Simon Heffer: Could French President Macron be derailed?

In Simon Heffer's monthly column, he talks of the downfall of the Macron regime, and what, in his opinion, has got the President to this point of possible derailment.

US citizens in France: Get your vote in early

US Ambassador to France urges US citizens to have faith in the voting process

France reacts to divisive President press conference

France is reacting to an address given by President Emmanuel Macron last night (April 25), with gilets jaunes saying he has “thrown us breadcrumbs”, and critics saying he has “reopened” the political crisis.

Trump to visit France for D-Day 75th anniversary

US President Donald Trump is to visit Normandy in June this year for the 75th anniversary commemorations of D-Day, he has said.

President Macron ‘€2,000 bottle of wine’ post debunked

Claims that French President Emmanuel Macron was “drinking a €2,000 bottle of wine while Paris was burning” have been debunked, after a Facebook post and photo on the issue went viral.

5th Republic poll: Mitterrand ‘best’ French President

François Mitterrand has topped a list of the French public’s “best” French Presidents over the last 40 years, in a poll to mark the 60th anniversary of the Fifth Republic.

A new revolution is coming, say Trotskyists

The far-left Trotskyist party Lutte Ouvrière (Workers’ Struggle) has had a candidate in every presidential election since 1974, gaining 5.8% of the vote in the first round in 2002 with the iconic Arlette Laguiller (the first woman presidential candidate for France). Last year it gained just 0.65% at the same point. Connexion asked its 2017 candidate Nathalie Arthaud if the party has a future...