Opinionway poll shows National Rally leading 2027 presidential field
RN leads 2027 polling while left-wing and centrist candidates remain fragmented across competing candidacies.
Event / Politics
French Presidential Election 2027
Coverage of the 2027 French presidential election campaign, including candidate announcements, policy positions, and political developments across the political spectrum.
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Daily activity
55 articles0 articles
2026-08-02 to 2026-10-30 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 28 Mar, 12:07 UTC
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What happened
French government presents 2027 budget with 5% deficit target amid parliamentary challenges
The French government presented its 2027 budget proposal on October 1st, targeting a deficit of 5% of GDP. The budget faces a difficult parliamentary path due to the absence of a majority in the National Assembly. Emmanuel Moulin assessed this deficit target as not very ambitious but realistic.
Bank of France Governor Emmanuel Moulin warns France risks interest rate strangulation without fiscal reform
Emmanuel Moulin, Governor of the Bank of France, warned in an interview with the Financial Times on Monday that France risked being "strangled by interest rates" if it did not correct its public finances. This warning was made in the context of France facing higher borrowing costs compared to Germany, with a spread of 1.31 percentage points on Wednesday morning, and deficits higher than other eurozone countries.
Moulin criticizes Mélenchon's proposal to cancel eurozone debt held by European Central Bank
Emmanuel Moulin recently rejected Jean-Luc Mélenchon's proposal to cancel the portion of French government debt held by the European Central Bank as "illegal, dangerous, and unnecessary." Moulin assessed the current fiscal situation as grave but argued that France can address it through passage of a government budget rather than debt cancellation schemes.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon promises to prosecute Bank of France governor for treason if elected president in 2027
Presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon accused Bank of France Governor Emmanuel Moulin of taking "public action against his country abroad" by warning international investors about France's fiscal situation. Mélenchon accused Moulin of implicitly calling on speculators to sanction France because of his policy proposals. Mélenchon wrote on social media that this constitutes "an act of treason" and promised prosecution if he wins the 2027 presidential election, stating "there will be no statute of limitations in 2027."
Emmanuel Moulin rejects intimidation threats and affirms central bank independence
Bank of France Governor Emmanuel Moulin responded on Wednesday on France Inter radio that he would not be intimidated by Mélenchon's prosecution threats. Moulin stated he would continue to express his views within his mandate and defend the independence of the institution he leads. He emphasized that central bank independence is protected under French law and EU treaties. His six-year term began in June 2026.
Moulin compares Mélenchon's pressure tactics to Trump administration pressure on Federal Reserve chair
Emmanuel Moulin compared Mélenchon's threats and pressure on him to the intimidation tactics used by former U.S. President Donald Trump against Jerome Powell when Powell was Federal Reserve chairman. Moulin stated: "Until now, I only knew one country that sought to intimidate the central banker, it's Trump's America." He referenced Trump's threats of criminal prosecution against Powell.
RN announces 16 billion euros in new spending for social programs
The RN counter-budget proposes 16 billion euros in new spending initiatives, including revaluation of caregiver leave benefits, financial support for families having a third child, creation of new prison places, and free driver's licenses for young people with no criminal record.
RN plans pension reform with retirement age at 62 and capitalization pillar
Marine Le Pen proposed reducing the retirement age to 62, or potentially 60, and promised 15-20 billion euros in savings for Social Security deficit reduction. She announced plans for a major individual and collective capitalization reform, including creation of a genuine capitalization pillar to complement the current pay-as-you-go system.
RN plans to reduce France's EU contribution to 5 billion euros
Marine Le Pen stated the RN intends to reduce France's financial contribution to the European Union to 5 billion euros. She also called for European Central Bank intervention to reduce interest rate burden on Eurozone countries, citing need for financial flexibility to invest in defense and technological advancement.
RN proposes golden rule budget constraint through referendum
Marine Le Pen proposed implementing a 'golden rule' budget constraint through a referendum that would require a yearly reduction in debt. This constitutional measure would institutionalize annual debt reduction requirements if approved by French voters.
Marine Le Pen presents RN economic program promising 140 billion euros in savings by 2032
Marine Le Pen, presidential candidate for the Rassemblement National, presented the party's economic program on October 6, 2026. She promised 140 billion euros in net savings by 2032 compared to 2026 levels. The proposal includes reducing the public deficit below 3% by 2030, restoring primary balance within 18 months of taking office, reducing France's debt-to-GDP ratio to 112%, and implementing a 30 billion euro net tax cut over the presidential term.
Jordan Bardella states RN cannot support 2027 government budget in current form
Jordan Bardella, president of the Rassemblement National, declared during the press conference that the party cannot vote in favor of the 2027 budget proposed by the Sébastien Lecornu government. He characterized the budget as 'bad, ineffective, and unjust.'
RN pledges to eliminate over 120 taxes and rationalize state spending
The RN program promises to centralize VAT collection, eliminate over 120 redundant or unnecessary taxes, and rationalize state spending. The party also plans to reduce spending on associations and official development assistance, as well as implement tighter migration policies with national priority restrictions on foreign access to social benefits.
Marine Le Pen reaffirms confidence in Jordan Bardella amid antisemitic remarks controversy
Marine Le Pen stated she maintains 'complete confidence' in Jordan Bardella as RN president despite recent revelations by Mediapart of antisemitic writings attributed to him from his youth. Bardella has denied authorship of the antisemitic messages, and Le Pen presented the party's program alongside him during the press conference.
Arcom announces review of podcast regulation ahead of 2027 French presidential election
Martin Ajdari, president of Arcom (French audiovisual regulator), announced on October 4, 2026 that the agency is reviewing potential new rules for podcasts featuring political personalities. The regulator has begun consultations with major content creators about possible regulatory frameworks for the 2027 election campaign. Ajdari specified that any new rules would differ from those applied to traditional broadcast media and would address fairness and honesty in political coverage.
Major French content creators have millions of YouTube subscribers
Multiple French online content creators have built substantial audiences through podcast and video platforms. Sam Zirah and Guillaume Pley, who runs the online media outlet Legend, each have several million YouTube subscribers. Other creators including Gaspard G and Hugo Décrypte have expanded from online-only platforms to collaborations with traditional media outlets, demonstrating the growing influence of independent digital content creators in France.
Podcasts currently exempt from French electoral pluralism requirements
Political podcasts and online video interviews are currently exempt from applying electoral pluralism, fairness, and equal speaking time requirements that apply to traditional media. Podcast creators are only required to respect electoral silence rules that prohibit political propaganda two days before elections. Arcom's review seeks to establish whether additional obligations regarding honesty and equity should apply to podcast formats that reach audiences comparable to traditional broadcast channels.
Édouard Philippe proposes retirement age of 65 and 45 years contribution requirement
Édouard Philippe, Horizons candidate for the 2027 French presidential election, announced a progressive increase in the retirement contribution duration to 45 years and the legal retirement age to 65 years. The proposal builds on a 2023 reform that was suspended in 2025, which had set the retirement age at 64 and contributions at 43 years. Philippe's plan aims to reach 65 years for legal retirement age and 45 contribution years within 10 years. However, one-third of French citizens will be able to retire before 65, between ages 60-64, accounting for workers who started early, those in difficult professions, or those whose bodies have been worn down by work.
Philippe proposes addition of capital accumulation component to pension system
Philippe proposes complementing the existing pay-as-you-go system with a capital accumulation component. Under this proposal, all salaried workers would be associated with capital gains. Philippe aims to make retirement savings plans one of the most attractive investments on the market, stating the goal is to reconcile work and capital by allowing all French citizens to benefit.
Philippe proposes retirement exceptions for workers with health issues and long careers
Philippe specified that the retirement age for people in poor health will not increase. It will remain at 55 years for people with disabilities, 60 years for people with permanent incapacity, and 62 years for people with invalidity. Long-career provisions will continue to allow early retirement for those who began working at a young age according to their individual career path.
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2 alternative perspectives
Socialist mayor's independent bid deepens left-wing candidacy fragmentation
Socialist mayor Bouamrane's independent candidacy multiplies left-wing candidates, deepening coalition fragmentation.
Left-wing fragmentation deepens as Bouamrane rejects primary, multiplies candidates
Bouamrane's independent left candidacy multiplies left-wing fragmentation despite ongoing unification attempts.
Paris court prepares to rule on RN parliamentary scandal affecting 2027 race
Paris court will rule on RN parliamentary scandal potentially affecting 2027 candidacy eligibility.
Bagayoko's Saint-Denis victory signals local strength amid fractured left
Bagayoko elected Saint-Denis mayor in first round, signaling local strength amid fragmented left coalition.
Socialist Party pushes double primary as Greens remain absent from left talks
Socialist double primary proposal stalls as Green Party participation blocked by party disputes.
Mélenchon launches campaign with star endorsements, polling at 13-15 percent
Mélenchon launches campaign with cultural star support, polling at 13-15 percent in first round.
Mélenchon launches Saint-Denis campaign with Mayor Bagayoko's endorsement
Mélenchon held his first rally in Saint-Denis with backing from the city's new mayor, Bally Bagayoko.
Philippe launches coalition-building campaign with leadership team
Philippe launches 2027 campaign with expanded coalition structure beyond his Horizons party.
Mélenchon seeks left-wing alliances as fourth candidacy solidifies
Mélenchon's 2027 candidacy emphasizes left-wing alliance potential despite persistent coalition fragmentation.
Borne exits Renaissance, signals centrist realignment for 2027
Borne exits Renaissance to lead new centrist party Bâtissons Ensemble, fragmenting the center further.
Philippe to announce 2027 candidacy with Attal withdrawal agreement
Philippe announces 2027 candidacy with Attal withdrawal agreement, expressing concerns about far-left and far-right polarization.