Both Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron have gained from the very deep disaffection of the French electorate with its traditional political representatives.
National Front party leader, Marine Le Pen, has been campaigning on a populist agenda.
Charles Platiau/Reuters
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.
It might look like an odd move, but quitting your party in the middle of a presidential election plays into a particular myth that might appeal to voters.
Emmanuel Macron was the winner of the first round of the French presidental election.
Eric Feferberg/AFP
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.
Marine Le Pen has pledged to take France out of the eurozone.
EPA/Olivier Hoslet
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?
The Champs-Élysées was shut after a terrorist attack on April 20.
Etienne Laurent/EPA
In the French graphic-novel series La Présidente, François Durpaire, Laurent Muller and Farid Boudjellal imagine what might happen if Marine Le Pen wins the presidential election.
Front National leader Marine Le Pen in the town of Raismes during the 2015 regional elections in Nord-Pas-de-Calais-Picardie.
Jérémy-Günther-Heinz Jähnick/Wikimedia
Older white voters have long made up the core of the FN’s support, but Marine Le Pen claims that its now the party of choice for twentysomethings. It’s a claim worth investigating.
Their policies on Syria, Russia, terrorism and the European Union.
Popular candidates for the 2017 presidential election (from left): Fillon, Macron, Melenchon, Le Pen and Hamon get ready to debate on March 20, 2017.
REUTERS/Patrick Kovarik
Behind the judicial turmoils of some of the candidates, it is becoming increasingly clear that the French presidential campaign is about two significantly opposed visions of the future.
Online backers are looking to Trump’s success as a preview of Le Pen’s candidacy.
ID1974 / Shutterstock.com
Some of the same people who played significant roles in a key pro-Trump subreddit are sharing their experience with their French counterparts backing Marine Le Pen.
Le Pen chooses her words carefully.
EPA/Ian Langsdon