Serving the campus of the University of Alabama since 1894

The Crimson White


Serving the campus of the University of Alabama since 1894

The Crimson White

Serving the campus of the University of Alabama since 1894

The Crimson White

French presidential election heads to run-off

French+presidential+election+heads+to+run-off

The French Presidential Election has yet to be decided with no candidate receiving a majority in Sunday’s first round, and a run-off election will now take place on May 7. 

The run-off will feature political newcomer Emmanuel Macron against National Front candidate Marine Le Pen.

In the first round of voting, the French had 11 different candidates to choose from, which divided up the vote. Macron and Le Pen won 24 and 21.8 percent of the vote respectively. 

The Socialist and Republican Parties, which have dominated France for decades, are no longer in the run-off. While Fillon, the Republican candidate, did come in third, Benoît Hamon of the Socialist Party only secured 6.3 percent of the vote. 

Now eager to take the helm of France, Le Pen’s National Front has argued in favor of closing immigration into France and removing the country from the increasingly unpopular European Union. Her popularity continues the rising tide of right-wing populism that has affected numerous elections across the western world.

Meanwhile, Macron’s movement “En Marche!” has been around for less than a year, yet the party now has over 200,000 members, according to CNN. Macron, a banker who has never run for office, has campaigned on improving the French economy.

More to Discover