The results of the second round resulted in a historic record of seats for the RN and an even greater polarisation of political life within the National Assembly itself.
The first round of the French presidential elections leaves the country’s party system in tatters and voters divided along three poles. What will happen in the second round is now anyone’s guess.
The dynamics of the “strategic vote” in France have amplified the restructuring of the political field around three major poles: centrist, identitarian and far left.
There are 12 candidates in the first round of the campaign – two favourites, three outsiders and a host of people with no chance of making it to the second round.
A populist movement that threatened to topple a French government more than 60 years ago has important lessons for today’s protests and why they represent a reckoning.
Pierre Bréchon, Auteurs historiques The Conversation France
Many French voters seems willing to give the new president and his party, La République en Marche, a broad mandate, even if they didn’t initially support him.
A survey shows that candidates who exploited populism in one way or the other during the first round of the French presidential election captured about half of the vote.
The first round of the presidential election has left French citizens and politicians divided – and the top candidates’ four-way split doesn’t favour governance of the country.
France must now choose between two candidates with strongly opposing visions. The outcome of the May 7 run-off could radically alter France, as well as its position in Europe and in the world.
François Hollande promised to make France’s youth a priority, but was a disappointment to them. While current candidates often showcase young supporters, will they have a voice after the election?