(VOVworld) – France’s presidential election has entered a critical stage 2 months before the first vote. Party candidates have been confirmed but new developments have made the final result unpredictable.
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| Emmanuel Macron at an electoral campaign in Lyon on Jan 4. (photo: EPA/VNA) |
The 1st ballot of the election is scheduled for April 23rd and the 2nd ballot for May 7. Official candidates are former Prime Minister Francois Fillon, former Education Minister Benoit Hamon, leader of the National Front Party Marine Le Pen, and former Economics Minister Emmanuel Macron.
Surprising developments
A few months ago, analysts predicted that the election would be the race between rightwing candidate Nicolas Sarkozy and Social Party candidate, incumbent President Francois Hollande. But Fillon, who was polling low, vaulted past other nominees to become the official candidate of the rightwing party.
Leftwing party candidate Francois Hollande decided not to stand for re-election. Former Education Minister Benoit Hamon beat out former Prime Minister Manuel Valls to represent the Social Party.
Analysts have predicted that Fillon and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen will reach the second ballot. But things turned up-side-down when the media revealed accusations of tax fraud and allegations that he paid his wife and children large amounts of taxpayer money for fake parliamentary assistant jobs. Fallon’s support has fallen to 20%, below Le Pen’s 27% and independent candidate Emmanuel Macron’s 23%.
Unpredictable result
Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Front, has promised to bring back “a free France and proud and independent people”. She has proposed France leaving the Eurozone, levying a tax on the labor contracts of foreigners, reducing the retirement age, and increasing resources for some social welfare services. She also wants to reserve certain rights such as free education for only French citizens. Her platform does not mention the macro-economy, public debt, budget deficit, or how to balance social welfare with tax reductions. Le Pen has been accused of “creating fake jobs” in the European Parliament (EP). The EP has asked her to repay 300,000 euros she received for two assistants who worked for her Party instead of the EP.
Francoise Fillon has little chance of winning after his financial scandal despite got support from the rightwing party.
Benoit Hamon is facing deep internal divisions in his party.
The unknown factor is 39-year-old Emmanuel Macron, who declared himself an independent candidate.