The first round of the French presidential elections is held on 10 April. Twelve candidates will start the race for the Elysées with the support needed for their presentation. According to recent surveys published by Ifop and Electrograph in France and Europe, the current president is Emmanuel Macron, with 28% voting. The Marine Le Pen of the National Union followed it with 18.5%, followed almost equalized, between 12% and 14% the far-right Eric Zemmour and the left Jean-Luc Melenchon. After failing to present a unified candidate, he is the only one with options on the left. It should be noted that a number of public people have denounced the poor media coverage of leftist candidates from mainstream media. After Zemmour and Melenchau, with fewer options, would be Valérie Pécresse, a candidate for LR Republicans, with about 10% of the votes.

A year ago, in the regional elections held in spring 2021, we talked about the Lille paradox. In France, regional elections have little to do with the presidential elections, but what is happening in them can also have an impact now. With the new strategy of the National Union, Marine Le Pen had the hope of overcoming Republicans in the regions of Upper France or the Blue Coast, with a strong social mass. In both cases the classical right was imposed (candidates supported by the Republican LR).

What seems to be weaker is strengthened at the gates of the presidencies. Somehow, in addition to Macron and Le Pen, the conditions arose for a Republican candidate to stand more forcefully for the race to Elysée.

Pécresse wins in Republican primaries

After being imposed on the National Union in the Upper France region, all the quiniels point to Xavier Bertrand being a Republican candidate. But in the primaries celebrated by the party, Pécresse won. The French correspondent of El País Vasco, Marc Bassets, wrote the article “Valérie Pécresse or the discreet appeal of the bourgeoisie” to announce his victory. Because Pécresse, besides being the only woman, is the richest of the nominations presented. part of the Parisian elite, economic liberal and social conservative. Two thirds Merkel and one third Thatcher in an interview dedicated to Le Point. The Pour Tous Community movement against same-sex marriage has been protected several times. Far from the others, for now you will have to make a brave campaign if you want to move on to the second round.

How to beat Zemmou's candidacy or far-right

Shortly before Pécress won the primaries, the cries of reconquest were heard on French radio and television channels. Behind them was the controversial journalist Zemmour. Following the title of his last successful literary work, La France n´a pas dit are dernier mota (“France has not said its last word”), he repeated in columns and platós that the French still have much to say, that the country must be reconquered morally and politically. Feminism and the enemy of immigration, the Le premier sexe (First Sex) or Le suicide français (French suicide) essays published between 2006 and 2014 have become standards in the most reactionary sectors of French society.

From the texts to the words, in recent years he has travelled the way before becoming a presidential candidate between misogynist and racist expressions. Jenofa Berhokoirigoine has written in number 2760 of ARGIA the loudspeaker that the big communication corporations have been offering him interesting. The sociologist Ugo Palheta, in his article entitled “The discreet ascension of Eric Zemmou” in South Wind, explains with mastery how and why they have carried out this media maneuver with the help of the philosopher Stathis Kouvélakis. Progressive evolution of the pillar of the conservative mass media.

By making half of the other candidates, it has been able to condition the present situation of the Platos for a long time. He officially applied to 12,000 followers in Paris on 5 December. He promised that all immigrants in an irregular situation will be expelled from the country if they are appointed presidents. It also announced tax cuts. The two main milestones you will use in the campaign. Two ultra-right candidates who have the opportunity to pass for the first time in history to the second round will take place in France. For Le Pen is a clear threat, especially as her nephew Marion Maréchal Le Pen leaves her aunt’s candidacy and makes public that she has joined Zemmou’s “reconquest”.

The left outside the public debate

On the other side of the coin, therefore, the treatment received from the media several opponents of the left and left ends. Those who have broken the ultra-right candidate have not said anything about the possibilities that have been set up on the left. Perhaps the most representative case is that of Anasse Kazib militant troskist. A well-known activist on the 2018 rail strike, he has managed to transfer his program and candidature to different places in France, through the accession of different social agents and movements.

Unfortunately, no special monitoring of what Kazib was getting in the mainstream media has been done. Finally, it has not reached the level of protection necessary for its presentation. In the letter sent by the well-known actress Adèle Haenel to the closure of the Kazibas Sustainable Revolution movement, the media’s interested tendency was very marked: “France would have a different face today if the proposal of the sustainable revolution and the sensible intelligence of Anass had received the same communicative attention as the words of the ultra-right.” And like Kasibena, there have been other cases.

In addition to Melencon, those who have managed to pass a filter to the left have been candidates protected by traditional parties. The environmental candidacy of Yannick Jadot, Fabian Roussel, sponsored by the Communist Party of France, or the candidature of the mayor of Paris, Ane Hidalgo. All the latter without the possibility to move to the second round. France24 has published an interesting ranking of candidates who have succeeded in presenting themselves and are on their way.

Influence of the Russian invasion

Putin invades Ukraine and puts it on its head. The invasion is affecting all aspects of the economy and geopolitics. It is clear that this event will lead to elections. Messages coming from Moscow and the spectre of war can make voters significantly dependent on voting for one or the other. For example, Le Pen, who has defended the good relationship with the vultures, the war situation is very much in question when there are a few days to go before the campaign. However, nobody says that the attempts of Putin and the European Union will further strengthen the current President Macron. So things, Macro and what will they compete on April 10?