Two French politicians have launched their presidential campaigns to become France’s first woman in next year’s spring elections
PARIS – Two French politicians began their presidential campaigns on Sunday to try to become France’s first woman in next year’s spring elections.
Marine Le Pen, of the far-right party of the National Rally, and the Socialist mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, launched their presidential platforms in the expected moves.
They join the growing list of challengers of centrist President Emmanuel Macron. This includes battles between multiple possible 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’s candidacy. He launched his candidacy in the northwestern city of Rouen.
“I want all children in France to have the same opportunities as me,” he said, invoking his roots. Hidalgo is the daughter of Spanish immigrants who fled their country in search of freedom in the midst of the government of dictator Francisco Franco.
Le Pen, a 53-year-old French far-right leader, began his campaign in the southern city of Frejus with a commitment to defending French “freedom.” According to a right-wing message that critics say has denigrated Muslim communities, Le Pen vowed to be tough on “the Talibanized parts of France.” Although he launched his candidacy earlier this year, on Sunday he turned Jordan Bardella, 26, into acting party leader as his campaign is in full swing.
Le Pen is also redoing his image for this election. It remains the dark blue wardrobe that has been his trademark. He will now dress in light blue for the campaign, “to show our less partisan, (coming) vision,” Le Pen special adviser Philippe Olivier told Le Figaro, the conservative newspaper.
Macron, 43, has not yet announced his re-election offer, but is expected to do so. Launching a candidacy in France is a necessary procedure for every presidential election.
Voting is expected to come down to a duel between Le Pen and Macron, as it was during France’s last presidential election in 2017.