Nearly six months before France's presidential election scheduled for April 18, 2027, approximately 28 potential candidates have emerged, with 24 having publicly announced their intention to run in the first round and four others considered likely to enter the race.
Under France's existing electoral system, the top two finishers in the first round advance to a runoff scheduled for May 2, 2027.
Currently leading in first-round polling are Marine Le Pen of the far-right National Rally and Jean-Luc Mélenchon of the radical left party La France Insoumise.
From the left, several candidates have publicly declared their candidacy. These include Raphaël Glucksmann of the Socialist Party, Fabien Roussel of the Communist Party, and Marine Tondelier of the Green Party. Four additional left-wing candidates and three far-left candidates have also announced their intention to run.
From the right, four candidates have publicly declared their candidacy, including two affiliated with the Republican Party. Several far-right candidates have also announced their participation in the first round.
The large field of candidates reflects the fragmented nature of French politics, with representation across the political spectrum from far-left to far-right movements, as well as centrist and traditional conservative positions. The first round will determine which two candidates proceed to the decisive May runoff.