Two French politicians began their presidential campaigns on Sunday, seeking to become the first woman to rule France in next year’s election.
The candidacies of the far-right Marine Le Pen and the Socialist mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, were widely awaited, and add to a growing list of rivals of centrist President Emmanuel Macron. This includes battles between multiple potential right-wing candidates – including another politician: Valerie Pecresse – and between the Greens.
Hidalgo, 62, mayor of the French capital since 2014, is the favorite to win the Socialist Party nomination. He launched his candidacy in the northwestern city of Rouen.
“I want all the kids in France to have the same opportunities I had,” he said, invoking his roots. Hidalgo is the daughter of Spanish immigrants who fled their country in search of freedom during the regime of dictator Francisco Franco.
Le Pen, 53, leader of the National Grouping party, began his campaign in the southern city of Frejus with the promise of defending French “freedom.” Reiterating a message from the far right that critics say has vilified Muslim communities, Le Pen vowed to be harsh with “parts of France that have been Talibanized.” Although he had already announced his candidacy, on Sunday he appointed Jordan Bardella, 26, as the party’s acting leader to allow his campaign to move forward at full speed.
Le Pen is also redoing his image for this election. She has left behind the dark blue costumes that characterized her. He will now dress in light blue for the campaign, “to show our vision, less partisan, (coming) higher,” Le Pen special adviser Philippe Olivier was quoted as saying by the conservative newspaper Le Figaro.
Macron, 43, has not yet announced his candidacy for re-election, but is presumed to do so. Launching a candidacy in France is a necessary formality for every presidential election.
Voting is expected to come down to a duel between Le Pen and Macron, as happened in France’s last presidential election in 2017.