Voting dates confirmed while candidates position for campaign
France has scheduled the first round of its next presidential election for April 18, 2027, with a runoff vote set for May 2, according to AFP. The timetable is expected to receive formal approval during Wednesday’s Council of Ministers, confirming earlier local media reports.
The election will determine the successor to President Emmanuel Macron, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive term after completing his second five-year mandate.
Attention has already shifted to the likely contenders, with political parties intensifying preparations for what is expected to be one of France’s most closely watched presidential races in recent years.
Far-right and centrist candidates dominate early opinion polls
Marine Le Pen’s National Rally views the 2027 election as its strongest opportunity to secure the French presidency. However, Le Pen’s eligibility remains uncertain pending an appeals court ruling scheduled for July 7 in connection with a European Parliament fake-jobs case. The outcome will determine whether she can launch a fourth presidential campaign after previous bids in 2012, 2017 and 2022.
Meanwhile, current opinion polls place National Rally president Jordan Bardella at the forefront of the race. The 30-year-old politician is polling between 34 and 36 percent in the first round and is projected to outperform several potential rivals in a runoff. Many observers regard Bardella as Le Pen’s political successor.
Former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, leader of the centrist Horizons party, remains one of the strongest alternatives to the far right, with support in the mid-to-high teens. Meanwhile, left-wing leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon has gained momentum in recent surveys, polling between 13 and 16 percent. Nevertheless, analysts caution that the campaign remains in its early stages, leaving ample room for political dynamics to change before voting begins.
