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Presidential election 2022

‘A long road ahead’: Parti Animaliste leader on French animal rights

Hélène Thouy discusses her presidential campaign and the barriers to improving animal welfare in France

450 guests, canonfire: the plan for Macron's presidential investiture

The ceremony will begin at 11:00 at the Elysée Palace and last just an hour and a half

President Macron may form new unifying party to win French MP majority

The new party would need candidates from the Left and Right to stand in June’s ‘Assemblée nationale’ elections, and with a majority win they could push though Mr Macron’s laws

news

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

President Macron's plans and how they will work in the real world

Hard work ahead for President Macron as he plans changes in health, pensions and environmental reforms. We gather the views of political analysts

What does Le Pen’s strong election result say about France?

Marine Le Pen called the performance a ‘resounding victory’. A French historian disagrees, but admits it poses questions about society and the country’s institutions

French election results and reactions as Macron wins second term

Emmanuel Macron will remain president of France for the next five years. His rival, Marine Le Pen, made big gains on 2017 and commits to remaining in politics

Macron wins second term as president: How did your area vote?

Emmanuel Macron was popular in Brittany and Pays de la Loire, while Marine Le Pen claimed large parts of northern and north-eastern France and Corsica

Five takeaways from France’s presidential election second round

We look at abstention rates, vote transfers, calls for a union of right-wing ‘patriots’ and Le Pen’s relative success

Why the 20:00 French election ‘result’ is very often right

The practices of French polling bodies do not rely on interviewing voters coming out of the polling stations so are said to be more accurate

How fake news posts tried to skew French election result

False information has ranged from conspiracy theories about a new QR code on voters’ cards to claims that thousands of gilets jaunes were banned from voting

‘France has chosen stability but social unrest a real risk in 2024’

Political analyst Jean Viard says there are always protests two years after every election - and Mr Macron will have to work hard to limit this

President Macron’s re-election win: ‘Now we have so much to do’

‘The war in Ukraine is a reminder that these are tragic times when France must show the clarity of its voice, and build its strength in all areas, and we will,’ he told the crowds in Paris

Macron - Le Pen: What do they each pledge to change if elected?

With the two set to face off on April 24 in the final round of the French presidential election, we look at their policies on Europe, housing, healthcare, energy, spending power and more

French election: Our pick of the 12 best quips from TV debate

‘You are a climate sceptic.’ Well, ‘you are a climate hypocrite.’ Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen clashed over issues including the environment, the EU and public finances

What is Macron’s ‘food cheque’ plan to boost healthier local produce?

Food cheques are set to be introduced after the election if the incumbent president wins

Updated: ‘I’ll leave', 'I'll celebrate' - your views on a Le Pen win

Latest polls have the Rassemblement national presidential hopeful at 47% to Macron’s 53%.

‘Le Pen’s programme remains far-right despite efforts to soften image’

The presidential hopeful’s views on immigration, citizenship, Islam and democracy are all symbolic of a far-right ideology, argue political experts

Marine Le Pen says French headscarf ban ‘no longer main priority’

The once key campaign proposal would now be addressed after other measures such as cutting off Islamist funding, and would reportedly not target regular headscarf wearers

Macron and Le Pen’s election rematch: A lot has changed since 2017

Polls and experts suggest that the race between the candidates will be far closer, after an embattled five-year term for Macron and the ‘dédiabolisation’ of Le Pen

French elections: Can I still register to vote in the second round?

Emmanuel Macron and Le Pen qualified on Sunday (April 10) for the second round of voting, which will take place on April 24

What happens now in the French election, will there be a TV debate?

We also look at when the country will vote in their next MPs - a step which will determine how easy (or not) it is for the new president to make changes

Le Pen praises Brexit; Macron and allies say she is hiding Frexit plan

The presidential hopeful claims she is no longer interested in France leaving the EU, but appreciates that the UK has been able to escape Brussels’ ‘straightjacket’

'Macron or Le Pen: It's like choosing between the plague or cholera'

We ask Mélenchon supporters about their voting intentions as a poll claims 23% of the left-wing candidate’s supporters now plan to back Le Pen

What is Le Pen’s ‘French nationals first’ policy and is it legal?

The far-right candidate wants to give French citizens priority over foreigners for housing and jobs. She also wants to limit or end social benefits for non-French nationals

French inheritance tax: How Macron and Le Pen plan changes

Both pledge in different ways to make it easier for assets to be donated or passed down to relatives

French election: The chase is on for Mélenchon’s 7.7 million voters

The supporters of the left-wing candidate are now coveted by both Macron and Le Pen ahead of the second round. A poll shows 23% plan to vote Le Pen

Sport stars in France urge voters to stop Marine Le Pen winning

In an open letter Tony Parker, Yannick Noah and almost 50 other athletes say the far-right presidential candidate ‘embodies the opposite of inclusive sporting values’

‘Election has become a question of everyday people versus elites’

What the theme of the final vote will be, why such a poor result for the Left and how the second round is far from predictable… French political analysts have their say

Macron - Le Pen in second round: How did your area of France vote?

Far-right candidates made gains on their 2017, 2012 and 2007 results: 4,453 communes accorded more than 50% of their vote to a far-right candidate this year while only 1,135 did in 2017

Macron and Le Pen qualify: French election results and comments

Emmanuel Macron (La République En Marche) tops the first-round polls with over 27%, Marine Le Pen (Rassemblement National) finishes second with over 23%. Jean-Luc Mélenchon (La France Insoumise) slightly further back with just under 22%

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

‘As a foreigner I cannot vote but a French person is voting for me’

Olga has lived in France for 30 years but without French citizenship they are unable to vote – but via a special platform, they have asked someone else to vote on their behalf

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

Radio Londres: Follow the French election with satirical Twitter page

‘We’re buying a lot of macaroons this Sunday, I repeat, we’re buying a lot of macaroons’ – This comedy page, based on a WWII radio station, uses ‘codes’ to reveal early election predictions