The essentials
The government will keep the 2027 presidential election dates despite requests from the right to move the second round.
The French government has decided not to change the dates of the 2027 presidential election, which are scheduled for 18 April and 2 May 2027. The decision came after right-wing parties and the National Rally asked for the second round to be moved away from 2 May 2027.
Two alternative schedules were proposed: 11 and 25 April 2027. The available reporting does not detail the government's reasoning for keeping the existing calendar.
The electoral campaign ends at midnight on the Friday before the vote. A decree convening voters must be published at least 10 weeks before the vote, a requirement that sets the latest point for formal convocation.
The available facts do not indicate whether the alternative dates would require legislative action, or how the requests were formally submitted.
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Fixed calendar leaves little room for changes before the vote
Under the rules described, the presidential vote is set for 18 April and 2 May 2027. The decree convening voters must be published at least 10 weeks before polling, and the campaign closes at midnight on the Friday before the vote. These deadlines define the window in which any change to the dates would have to be decided, and the government has chosen to keep the existing schedule.
Right-wing parties press to shift second round away from May 2
Right-wing parties and the National Rally asked for the second round to be moved away from 2 May 2027, proposing 11 and 25 April as alternatives. The government did not accept the request and kept the scheduled dates. The available reporting does not detail the specific arguments the parties put forward, so their motives remain unspecified.