ELECTION TALKS WEBINAR : 2022 French Presidential Election

In the light of yesterday’s debate between Macron and Le Pen, the first round and an exclusive Kantar Public survey on the image of the final two candidates, what lessons can be learned and what can be expected for the second round ?

The French Presidential election will always be remembered for the very specific circumstances in which it took place. With the potential end of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and soaring energy prices, the context has been volatile and likely to have already impacted the vote of many. A France divided into 3 blocks now faces a binary choice, and it is left wing voters who will decide the outcome.

The possible re-election, or election, of either Emmanuel Macron or Marine Le Pen would be an unprecedented situation. Never in the history of the 5th Republic has a French President won a second term whilst maintaining a legislative majority and never has a far right, or female, candidate ever acceded to the highest function in the land.  With the traditional ruling parties, the Socialists and the Republicans, having slumped to historic losses and the far-left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon picking up the mantle to represent the left, this election has already reshuffled the French political landscape and will be a turning point on which the next five years will hinge.

Following on from the first round therefore, what lessons can be learnt and what will the final duel mean for France? What are the consequences for those parties whose candidates are eliminated? What key issues are at stake in the upcoming second round and what could be the consequences at European level?

As part of our Election Talks series hosted by the Centre Kantar sur le Futur de l’Europe, we are delighted to invite you to our next webinar, during which our experts will assess the current electoral situation and answer your questions.