The first round of the French presidential elections will take place next Sunday. The opposition is finalizing the election campaign for possible face-to-face contact with Macron in the second round. Le Pen, Mélenchon, Zemmour: these are the contenders for the presidency.
A few days before the first round of the presidential elections in France, the opposition is putting the finishing touches to the election campaign. More than 48 million people will be called to vote this Sunday. The president has virtually secured his position in a runoff election with the intention of voting between 28% and 34%. The question remains: which candidate will challenge Macron for the presidency?
Marine Le Pen (National Ensemble)
The right-wing candidate has been associated with the National Front since childhood, a party that Jean-Marie Le Pen, her father, has led since its foundation. In 2011, Marine Le Pen replaced him as party chairman. That year he ran for the French presidency, finishing third in the first round. In 2017, he contested the second round against Macron, gaining a third of the vote.
With a strategy of temperance, the candidate has forged an image as a defender of the most popular classes. He has managed to lead his party to win the European in 2019 and get good results in the municipal in 2020 and the regional in 2021. Le Pen has shown a more moderate face contrary to his father’s policy. However, he maintains the party’s cues on immigration and traditionalism.
Most French consider the purchasing power as the most important factor in determining their vote, in favor of the health system, the environment and immigration. Le Pen bets on the lower taxes on fuel and electricity Likewise, he has proposed an exceptional tax on the huge profits of the macro-energy companies.
The candidate denies that France is a member of the European Unionand proposes the leaving the country from NATO She was a member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2017, the year she joined the French National Assembly.
Marine LePen. Photo: EFE
Jean-Luc Mélenchon (Submissive France)
The progressive candidate is the left’s favorite in the polls. It will be his third attempt at the first round after failing Le Pen’s 600,000 votes in 2017.
Mélenchon has also focused his election speech on price increases. The candidate chooses to a limit on the fuel price
In addition, it proposes an increase in the minimum wage to €1,400 net (which amounts to an increase of 200 euros), the reduction of the retirement age from 62 to 60 years and the reduction of the working day from 35 to 32 hours per week.
The insumiso also has an international program with important points: the France’s departure from NATO and reform the founding treaties of the European Union. Mélenchon has lowered his Eurocritical positions apart from the exit from the EU.
Although the French left has presented itself fragmented to the elections, Mélenchon has managed to position itself as the best alternative, opting for a possible run-off with Macron.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon was part of the left wing of the Socialist Party for many years and became a senator and Minister of Vocational Education. In 2008 he founded the Left Party. Since then, he has been a member of the National Assembly and the European Parliament.
Jean Luc Melenchon. Photo: EFE
Eric Zemmour (Reconquest)
Éric Zemmour is a journalist and talk show host known for its radical views and opinions Late last year, he dropped the idea of running for president and found he had a place on the far right. One of Zemmour’s proposals is based on the mass expulsion of foreigners; places great emphasis on immigration policy.
It attracted a lot of attention in the early polls. However, the intention to vote for Reconquest has stagnated in the coming months, as immigration has lost importance in the public debate.
Last February, at a meeting in Lille, the candidate left the speech on immigration and security, focusing on purchasing power, an essential factor for the French. However, criticism of immigration is still valid in his speeches; does not hesitate to blame Muslim immigrants for the deterioration of the socio-economic situation. In this matter, Zemmour’s proposals are based on the lower taxes and social spending
The controversial candidate has criticized European integration and is determined to NATO
Eric Zemmour. Photo: @ZemmourEric (Twitter)
Source: EITB
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
