Thirty-five people want to be the next president of France. What could possibly go wrong?
The upcoming presidential election in France is drawing significant attention as 35 candidates vie for the position. With Emmanuel Macron stepping down after two terms, there are concerns that the fragmented moderate left and right could pave the way for a far-right victory. The political landscape is chaotic, with various factions struggling to unify and present a strong alternative to the far-right candidates.
- ▪Emmanuel Macron is constitutionally barred from serving more than two consecutive terms as president.
- ▪There are currently 35 candidates in the race to succeed Macron, leading to concerns about a fragmented moderate vote.
- ▪The far-right is currently leading in first-round polls, raising alarms about the potential impact on the EU and its decision-making.
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Emmanuel Macron’s time at the helm is coming to an end. Photograph: Tom Nicholson/ReutersView image in fullscreenEmmanuel Macron’s time at the helm is coming to an end. Photograph: Tom Nicholson/ReutersThis is EuropeWorld newsThirty-five people want to be the next president of France. What could possibly go wrong?Unless the mainstream gets its act together, next year’s election looks likely to hand the keys of the Élysée to the far right Don’t get This Is Europe delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereJon Henley, Europe correspondentWed 27 May 2026 10.30 EDTLast modified on Wed 27 May 2026 10.31 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on Google“The real risk,” France’s prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, reportedly said last month, “is that this tangle of ambitions reflects such a lack of engagement with…
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