Newswire
Paris: France this week officially confirmed that its next presidential election will be held on April 18, 2027, with a second-round runoff scheduled for May 2, 2027, after the government formally approved the electoral timetable during a Cabinet meeting.
The decision follows consultations between the Interior Ministry and political parties, with the government opting for the later of two proposed schedules. Officials said the chosen dates were intended to minimise the impact of spring school holidays on voter participation, ensuring that fewer regions would still be on vacation during the decisive second round despite the proximity of the May 1 public holiday.
The timetable was approved by President Emmanuel Macron, whose second and final constitutional term concludes on May 14, 2027. Under France’s Constitution, the first round of voting must take place between 20 and 35 days before the end of the incumbent president’s mandate, placing the election within the required legal timeframe.
The announcement marks the formal beginning of the country’s presidential election cycle, with political parties already accelerating preparations for one of Europe’s most closely watched electoral contests.
The Interior Ministry is expected to publish the official decree calling voters to the polls while also announcing deadlines for voter registration and candidate nominations. Presidential hopefuls must secure at least 500 endorsements from elected officials to qualify for the ballot, and the final list of candidates must be published no later than March 26, 2027, although it may be released earlier.
Several prominent political figures have already entered the race. Bruno Retailleau has been selected as the presidential candidate of the conservative Republicans party, while Jean-Luc Mélenchon has confirmed he will represent the hard-left France Unbowed movement. Former prime minister Gabriel Attal is set to contest the election as the candidate of the centrist Renaissance party.
Meanwhile, former prime minister Édouard Philippe is preparing to launch his presidential campaign with a major rally in Paris, as attention also focuses on Marine Le Pen, who is awaiting a court ruling in a case linked to alleged misuse of European Parliament funds. A decision barring her from public office for more than two years could prevent her from contesting a fourth consecutive presidential election and potentially open the way for Jordan Bardella to become the National Rally’s presidential nominee.
With the election calendar now formally established, France’s political parties are expected to intensify campaigning over the coming months as the race to succeed Macron gathers momentum.
