The French Presidential Election: Race to the Finish

France has cast its votes in the first round of the 2022 presidential election, pitting President Emmanuel Macron against his far-right rival Marine Le Pen for the final contest on April 24.

Join Financial Times journalists and external experts for an up-to-the-minute virtual briefing as the race to the finish gets underway. Our panel will share their views and take FT readers’ questions on what the future holds for France, its approach to world affairs, as well as business at home and abroad.

Before the first round, Macron was polling ahead of Le Pen. While he had been focused on international diplomacy to deal with Russia’s onslaught on Ukraine, the soaring cost of living had been the focus of Le Pen, making the incumbent vulnerable to a protest vote against his five-year rule and his style of governing.

Will the 44-year-old centrist secure a second five-year term? Or will Le Pen, Macron’s run-off rival last time, win the Elysée Palace and significantly shift France’s domestic and foreign policy?

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