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French election 2017: Who are the candidates? French election 2017: Who are the candidates?
(30 days later)
Eleven candidates have joined the race for the French presidency, and the campaign is now into its final stages ahead of the election on 23 April. Eleven candidates have joined the race for the French presidency, and the campaign is now in its final days ahead of the election on 23 April.
There are three front-runners and as none are likely to secure an outright majority, a run-off between the two candidates is now expected on 7 May. There are four front-runners and, as none is likely to secure an outright majority, a run-off between the two leading candidates is now expected on 7 May.
For the first time in 15 years, the far-right National Front has a realistic chance of winning the race under Marine Le Pen. Centrist Emmanuel Macron is challenging her in the opinion polls after the centre-right Republican Francois Fillon was derailed by an investigation into misuse of public funds. For the first time in 15 years, the far-right National Front has a realistic chance of winning the race under Marine Le Pen. Centrist Emmanuel Macron is challenging her in the opinion polls.
For the first time in modern French history, the incumbent - Socialist President Francois Hollande - is not running for a second term because of poor poll ratings. The former favourite, centre-right Republican François Fillon, is still in the race despite being investigated over alleged misuse of public funds. So is far-left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who is enjoying a late surge in support.
For the first time in modern French history, the incumbent - Socialist President François Hollande - is not running for a second term because of poor ratings.
All you need to know about the French electionAll you need to know about the French election
Marine Le Pen, National Front (FN)Marine Le Pen, National Front (FN)
She took over the FN leadership from her father in January 2011 and came third in presidential elections the following year. She brought the party big electoral gains in regional elections in late 2015.She took over the FN leadership from her father in January 2011 and came third in presidential elections the following year. She brought the party big electoral gains in regional elections in late 2015.
Opinion polls suggest she is neck and neck with Emmanuel Macron but unlikely to defeat him in the second round in May. Opinion polls suggest she is neck and neck with Emmanuel Macron but unlikely to defeat him in the second round.
The Marine Le Pen storyThe Marine Le Pen story
In 2010, before being elected leader, Marine Le Pen compared Muslims praying in the street to the German occupation. Now she has softened her tone and the FN has also tried to build bridges with the Jewish community. In 2010, before being elected leader, Marine Le Pen compared Muslims praying in the street to the German occupation. But since 2011 she has softened her tone and the FN has also tried to build bridges with the Jewish community.
Meanwhile other nationalist parties - in Germany, the Netherlands and elsewhere - have emerged, making the FN much less of a French exception. As the election approached her position hardened again, with a pledge to suspend all legal immigration while new rules are drafted. She also caused outrage by wrongly suggesting that France had no responsibility for the Paris round-up of 13,000 Jews deported in World War Two.
Hugh Schofield: Is France's National Front leader far-right?Hugh Schofield: Is France's National Front leader far-right?
Marine Le Pen, 48, trained as a lawyer and headed the FN's legal department. After years of fighting and losing French parliamentary elections, she was elected to the European Parliament in 2004 and remains an MEP, representing North-West France.Marine Le Pen, 48, trained as a lawyer and headed the FN's legal department. After years of fighting and losing French parliamentary elections, she was elected to the European Parliament in 2004 and remains an MEP, representing North-West France.
Marine Le Pen is twice divorced with three children, and lives in the western suburbs of Paris. She is twice divorced with three children, and lives in the western suburbs of Paris.
What she wants:What she wants:
Emmanuel Macron, En Marche (On the Move)Emmanuel Macron, En Marche (On the Move)
At 39, he has a real chance of becoming France's youngest-ever president because polls suggest if he reaches the run-off on 7 May he would defeat Marine Le Pen.At 39, he has a real chance of becoming France's youngest-ever president because polls suggest if he reaches the run-off on 7 May he would defeat Marine Le Pen.
He is not an MP and has never stood for election before but his political rise has been meteoric.He is not an MP and has never stood for election before but his political rise has been meteoric.
A brilliant student who went on to become an investment banker, Emmanuel Macron worked as economic adviser to President Hollande before taking up the post of economy minister in 2014.A brilliant student who went on to become an investment banker, Emmanuel Macron worked as economic adviser to President Hollande before taking up the post of economy minister in 2014.
He forged a reputation with his "Macron Law", a controversial reform bill that allowed shops to open more often on Sundays and deregulated some sectors of industry. He championed digital start-ups and prompted a long-distance bus market.He forged a reputation with his "Macron Law", a controversial reform bill that allowed shops to open more often on Sundays and deregulated some sectors of industry. He championed digital start-ups and prompted a long-distance bus market.
While a breath of fresh air for France's business community, his policies aroused opposition among the left of the governing Socialists.While a breath of fresh air for France's business community, his policies aroused opposition among the left of the governing Socialists.
But when he set up En Marche as "neither left nor right" in April 2016, his position in the Socialist government became increasingly untenable and he resigned before launching a presidential bid. But when he set up En Marche as "neither left nor right" in April 2016, his position in the Socialist government became increasingly untenable and he resigned before launching a presidential bid. He has attracted the support of veteran moderate François Bayrou as well as Socialist ex-Prime Minister Manuel Valls.
Mr Macron is married to his former French teacher Brigitte Trogneux, 20 years his senior, and has seven step-grandchildren.Mr Macron is married to his former French teacher Brigitte Trogneux, 20 years his senior, and has seven step-grandchildren.
What he wants:What he wants:
Emmanuel Macron: France's ambitious man 'on the move' Emmanuel Macron's meteoric rise
France's Macron joins presidential race to 'unblock France'France's Macron joins presidential race to 'unblock France'
Francois Fillon, The Republicans François Fillon, The Republicans
When Mr Fillon, 62, won his centre-right party's nomination for the presidency he immediately became the favourite.When Mr Fillon, 62, won his centre-right party's nomination for the presidency he immediately became the favourite.
The two men he defeated, Nicolas Sarkozy and Alain Juppe, have over the years been dogged by controversy, but now Mr Fillon is too. The two men he defeated, Nicolas Sarkozy and Alain Juppé, have over the years been dogged by controversy, but now Mr Fillon is too.
His campaign has been rocked by allegations that his wife and two children improperly received public funds. Initially he said he would step aside if he was placed under formal investigation but as it became clear that was on the cards he changed his mind.His campaign has been rocked by allegations that his wife and two children improperly received public funds. Initially he said he would step aside if he was placed under formal investigation but as it became clear that was on the cards he changed his mind.
He complained he was the victim of a "political assassination" and said the voices of "millions of votes have been muzzled".He complained he was the victim of a "political assassination" and said the voices of "millions of votes have been muzzled".
He is behind the two favourites but not out of the running. Despite the inquiry, he is not far behind the two front-runners in the polls and his campaign team remains confident.
Mr Fillon studied law and married his Welsh wife, Penelope Clarke, in 1980 in Llanover, near Abergavenny. They have five children and their home is a 12th-Century manor house near Le Mans in western France.Mr Fillon studied law and married his Welsh wife, Penelope Clarke, in 1980 in Llanover, near Abergavenny. They have five children and their home is a 12th-Century manor house near Le Mans in western France.
What he wants:What he wants:
Benoit Hamon, Socialist Party Jean-Luc Mélenchon, La France Insoumise (France unbowed)
Renowned as a left-wing rebel within the Socialist party, ex-education minister Benoit Hamon decisively won the race for the party nomination, defeating former Prime Minister Manuel Valls. With the Socialists seeing a meltdown in popular support, far-left firebrand Jean-Luc Mélenchon, 65, has sensed a possible opening in the race.
Known as the "French Bernie Sanders", Mr Hamon, 49, is struggling to make much headway in the presidential race, partly because of competition from far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon. He has also struggled to secure broad support across a divided Socialist party. He is among the four frontrunners, polls suggest, and being hailed as a serious contender.
With his designer stubble and cheeky grin, he has some of the most eye-catching policies, from taxing the wealth created by robots to a universal monthly payment for French citizens. He has since had to revise his basic income plan, reducing its cost from €400bn to €35bn. "Once again, they are announcing that my election win will set off a nuclear winter, a plague of frogs, Red Army tanks and a landing of Venezuelans," Mr Mélenchon commented wryly in response.
"The money party has too many candidates in this election," he told supporters. "One says 'Get rich!' and the other two say 'Make us rich!'", he complained, referring to Emmanuel Macron, Marine Le Pen and Francois Fillon. He has seized the limelight with his razor-sharp wit during televised debates and impressed the public with his hi-tech use of holograms, projecting his image to rallies in six cities simultaneously.
What he wants:
Mr Hamon's partner is Gabrielle Guallar and the couple have two daughters.
Benoit Hamon to be Socialist candidate in French election
Jean-Luc Melenchon, Parti de Gauche (Left Party)
With the centre-left experiencing a meltdown in popular support, firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon, 65, has sensed a possible opening in the race. He came fourth in the 2012 presidential vote, with 11% of the vote.
His campaign launch was the most imaginative in the race, appearing as a hologram at a rally in Paris while addressing a crowd in Lyon some 500km (310 miles) away.
Backed by France's Communist Party, he says the means of production, trade and consumption must be changed, and cites climate change as one of his concerns.Backed by France's Communist Party, he says the means of production, trade and consumption must be changed, and cites climate change as one of his concerns.
He said: "This is a tremendous opportunity to loose the bonds that paralyse us today."He said: "This is a tremendous opportunity to loose the bonds that paralyse us today."
A former supporter of European federalism, he now calls for France to leave European treaties, saying the EU's economic liberalism has sapped its ability to deliver democratic change. A former supporter of European federalism, he argues that the EU's economic liberalism and "ideological obsessions" with avoiding debt have sapped its ability to deliver democratic change.
He left the Socialist Party in November 2008 to found the Left Party with French deputy Marc Dolez. He joined the Left Front electoral federation and was elected to the European Parliament in 2009, where he still serves.He left the Socialist Party in November 2008 to found the Left Party with French deputy Marc Dolez. He joined the Left Front electoral federation and was elected to the European Parliament in 2009, where he still serves.
What he wants:What he wants:
Jean-Luc Melenchon announces 2017 France presidency bid Benoît Hamon, Socialist Party
Renowned as a left-wing rebel within the Socialist party, ex-education minister Benoît Hamon decisively won the race for the party nomination, defeating former Prime Minister Manuel Valls.
Known as the "French Bernie Sanders", Mr Hamon, 49, is struggling to make headway in the presidential race, partly because of competition from Jean-Luc Mélenchon. He has also struggled to secure broad support across a divided Socialist party.
With his designer stubble and cheeky grin, he has some of the most eye-catching policies, from taxing the wealth created by robots to a universal monthly payment for French citizens. He has since had to revise his basic income plan, reducing its cost from €400bn to €35bn.
"The money party has too many candidates in this election," he told supporters. "One says 'Get rich!' and the other two say 'Make us rich!'", he complained, referring to Emmanuel Macron, Marine Le Pen and François Fillon.
What he wants:
Mr Hamon's partner is Gabrielle Guallar and the couple have two daughters.
Benoit Hamon to be Socialist candidate in French election
Who are the other candidates?Who are the other candidates?
Six other candidates gathered the required 500 signatures of elected officials across France to stand in the 2017 presidential vote. Six other candidates are standing in the 2017 presidential vote.
Nathalie Arthaud, Lutte Ouvriere (Workers' Struggle), 46, Trotsykist: seeks to prohibit redundancies and job cuts, increase of salaries and pensions to €1,800, impose worker control on enterprises and ownership of means of production. Nathalie Arthaud, Lutte Ouvrière (Workers' Struggle), 46, Trotskyist: seeks to prohibit redundancies and job cuts, increase of salaries and pensions to €1,800, impose worker control on enterprises and ownership of means of production.
Francois Asselineau, Union Populaire Républicaine (Popular Republic Union), 59, Nationalist and anti-US: seeks withdrawal of France from the EU, euro and Nato, to renationalise big industries and private corporations. François Asselineau, Union Populaire Républicaine (Popular Republic Union), 59, Nationalist and anti-US: seeks withdrawal of France from the EU, euro and Nato, to renationalise big industries and private corporations.
Jacques Cheminade, 75, Ex-civil servant in economy ministry seeks to ditch the EU and abandon the euro. A follower of US conspiracy theorist Lyndon LaRouche.Jacques Cheminade, 75, Ex-civil servant in economy ministry seeks to ditch the EU and abandon the euro. A follower of US conspiracy theorist Lyndon LaRouche.
Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, 55, Debout La France (Stand Up France) Gaullist: wants to leave the euro and scrap the EU, higher ethical standards for elected officials, put the fight against jihadist terrorism at the centre of foreign policy. Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, Debout La France (Stand Up France), 55, Gaullist: wants to leave the euro and scrap the EU, higher ethical standards for elected officials, put the fight against jihadist terrorism at the centre of foreign policy. Claims he received texts from the Fillon campaign urging him to withdraw his candidacy.
Jean Lassalle, 61, centrist, independent MP who wants to renegotiate European treaties; staged a 39-day hunger strike in 2006 in a bid to save 140 jobs at a factory and walked 5,000km across France in 2013. Jean Lassalle, 61, centrist, independent MP who wants to renegotiate European treaties; staged a 39-day hunger strike in 2006 in a bid to save 140 jobs at a factory and walked 5,000km across France in 2013. Hailed for his "refreshing" bursts of rhetorical frankness, as when he coarsely dismissed the value of opinion polls.
Philippe Poutou, 50, New Anti-Capitalist Party Former Ford car worker wants to lower retirement age to 60, reducing the working week to 32 hours and make abortion and contraception free and accessible. Philippe Poutou, 50, New Anti-Capitalist Party Ford factory worker who wants to lower retirement age to 60, reducing the working week to 32 hours and make abortion and contraception free and accessible. Many hailed him the star of the second presidential TV debate when he attacked Mr Fillon and Ms Le Pen over allegations of corruption.