Will France elect Emmanuel Macron, a centrist and stop the wave of populism that presently grips the world with the election of Donald Trump in the US and Brexit or vote Marine Le Pen, a far-right and ratifies it? That is the significance of the French presidential election. It is a choice between two extremes in a race between the two outsiders, who eliminated the candidates of the main parties of the left and right.
Emmanuel Macron
Party: En Marche! (On the Move!). Centrist: liberal economically, left socially
Age: 39
Career: Never held elected office; 2005 civil servant; 2008 investment banker; 2012 senior adviser to President François Hollande; 2014 economy minister; 2016 resigns, establishes En Marche!
In brief: polished, impassioned, internationally-minded, pro European Union.
Policies: Remake the “failed” and “vacuous” French political system; relax labour laws; cut business taxes; reform unemployment system; encourage social mobility; cut public spending (but boost investment); shrink public sector; reduce number of MPs; establish eurozone government; hire 10,000 more police and gendarmes.
Marine Le Pen
Party: National Front. Far-right.
Age: 48
Career: Lawyer by training; 1998 regional councillor; 2004 MEP; 2011 president of FN; 2012 presidential candidate (18% in first round)
In brief: Imperious, theatrical, ruthlessly determined, anti European Union, France first, anti-globalization and anti-immigration
Policies: Priority for French nationals in jobs, housing, welfare; extra tax on foreign workers and imports; proportional representation in parliament; negotiate with EU for return of “full sovereignty” including the franc; in-out referendum on EU membership; cut immigration to 10,000 a year; restrict nationality rights; hire 15,000 police; create 40,000 more prison places.
Macron and Le Pen defeated 9 other candidates in the first round to face off in the French presidential election. Macron came with 23.9% of the vote, while Le Pen earned 21.4% to place second.
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