The essential :
- 48.7 million voters were called to vote yesterday, Sunday April 10, for the first round of the presidential election. Abstention exceeded 26%, i.e. between 4 and 6 points more than in 2017, according to the final results communicated by the Ministry of the Interior. It is approaching the level of April 21, 2002, a record year with abstention which had reached 28.4%.
Emmanuel Macron largely qualified for the second round, obtaining 27.85% of the votes cast, ahead of the candidate RN Marine Le Pen, 23.15%. The LFI candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon reached 21.95%, and believed until late at night to be able to catch up. Far behind, Éric Zemmour (Reconquest!), 7.07%, occupies fourth place, followed by candidate LR Valérie Pécresse (4.78%) and ecologist Yannick Jadot, 4.63%, both below the threshold reimbursement of campaign expenses. Anne Hidalgo obtained 1.75%. The second round will be held on Sunday April 24.
Marine Le Pen called on Sunday for a “great alternation that (France) needs” after her qualification for the second round of the presidential election, inviting “all those who did not vote” for Emmanuel Macron to “join her “. Éric Zemmour and Nicolas Dupont-Aignan called to vote for the candidate of the National Rally. Anne Hidalgo called for voting for Emmanuel Macron, like Fabien Roussel and Yannick Jadot. Valérie Pécresse declared that she would vote for Emmanuel Macron “in conscience” in the second round, without giving any voting instructions. “We must not give a single voice to Marine Le Pen”, repeated Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
Arrived at the head of the first round of the presidential election, Emmanuel Macron should gather his sympathizers in Marseille, during the next weekend, for a large meeting of between-two-rounds in the open air. Expected for a first visit to Hauts-de-France on Monday, then to Strasbourg on Tuesday, the outgoing also plans to occupy the field in the media.
10:06 p.m. – Brigitte Bardot describes Emmanuel Macron as a “despicable and despised bloodthirsty destroyer”
In an open letter posted on Twitter, Brigitte Bardot attacked Emmanuel Macron: “The French, by voting for you, for a second term, are victims of Stockholm syndrome.” The former actress criticizes her for her “total disinterestedness of the French”, “the abyssal indebtedness” of the country, but also her relationship with the hunters: “Your cowardice and your indignity push you to the sordid agreements you make with the hunters (.. .) You are the ‘Putin’ of nature and animals, a despicable and despised bloodthirsty destroyer.”
9:53 p.m. – Ifop poll: Macron would win with only 5 points difference over Le Pen
For the director of Ipsos, Brice Teinturier, “Emmanuel Macron leaves with a small advantage. But we are far from what we had in 2017. And there, very clearly, it is Jean-Luc Mélenchon, or rather his electorate, which largely holds the key to this second round”. According to an Ifop-Fiducial poll published Monday evening, Emmanuel Macron would win on April 24 with 52.5% of the vote against 47.5% for Marine Le Pen.
9:42 p.m. – Waiting for Nicolas Sarkozy
The former head of state, who did not support Valérie Pécresse during the campaign, could speak out soon after the final defeat of his camp.
Read the article – Presidential: while waiting for Nicolas Sarkozy.
9:31 p.m. – Le Pen in “Face à Baba” on Wednesday evening, Macron’s presence uncertain
In his show Do not touch My TV on C8, Cyril Hanouna indicated that he had offered a face-to-face meeting, on his set, to the two candidates in the second round. “We would like to put the two candidates against French people this time, and not people who already belong to political parties. Citizens who are going to vote. We have had the agreement of Marine Le Pen, who will be there, in direct, Wednesday evening”, detailed the troublemaker before adding: “I want to put her in front of a yellow vest, in front of a veiled woman, and that she also tell us what she would have done if she had been in the place of Emmanuel Macron during these five years. The president-candidate has not yet responded.
9:15 p.m. – Why the PS does not fear bankruptcy
Anne Hidalgo will not be reimbursed for most of her presidential campaign expenses, but the party claims to have solid financial backs.
Read the article – Why the PS does not fear bankruptcy.
8:51 p.m. – A local PCF was vandalized in the North after the first round
The communist federation of the North said it had filed a complaint after the front door of its headquarters in Lille was damaged by people accusing the communist presidential candidate Fabien Roussel of having prevented the left from reaching the second round. The incident took place on Sunday around 9:30 p.m., when half a dozen communist activists were gathered at the headquarters of the federation, said federal secretary Karine Trottein, confirming information from France 3.
“Shortly after the announcement of the results (of the first round of the presidential election, editor’s note), a group of rather young people tried to enter by force, then they damaged the front door,” said Karine Trottein. They insulted the Communists, accusing them of having presented a presidential candidate against Jean-Luc Mélenchon, candidate of La France insoumise who came third, and did not qualify in the second round.
8:46 p.m. – Threat to the EU, hints of Brexit… The Macron-Le Pen duel seen from abroad
How the result of the first round of the French presidential election is perceived in London, Madrid, Rome, Algiers… The analysis of the correspondents of “Le Point”.
Read the article Threat to the EU, hints of Brexit… The Macron-Le Pen duel seen from abroad.
8:41 p.m. – Alice Coffin slipped a ballot in favor of Jean-Luc Mélenchon
On BFM TV, feminist activist Alice Coffin insisted on underlining the “mediocrity” of the EELV camp, justifying by the “planting” of Yannick Jadot his vote in favor of Jean-Luc Mélenchon (LFI). “The non-accession of the left to the second round was written on the evening of the environmental primary,” she said.
7:56 p.m. – Among LR senators, Larcher will vote Macron and Retailleau will vote white
The Republicans of the Senate group has taken full advantage of the freedom of choice left by the party for the second round of the presidential election: the president of the Senate Gérard Larcher will vote for Emmanuel Macron and the president of the group Bruno Retailleau will vote white.
7:41 p.m. – A Macron bonus of 6,000 euros?
Emmanuel Macron, interviewed by Bruce Toussaint in a bar in Carvin, spoke about purchasing power. He notably put back on the table the famous “Macron bonus”, the ceiling of which had been set at 1,000 euros and which he wants to “raise to 6,000 euros”. “The year when things are going well”, in a company, “the employee must be able to take advantage of it”.
7:27 p.m. – Emmanuel Macron does not want to “divide the country” on pensions
Emmanuel Macron gave his first major post-first round interview to BFMTV. He took the opportunity to defend his program on employment, purchasing power and – this is his hobbyhorse – pensions. He confirmed that he wanted to push back the legal retirement age to 65 in order to “balance the system”, which, according to him, is today “hypocritical”.
The president-candidate once again mentioned the minimum full-rate pension he wants to put in place (1,100 euros), then moved on to another more delicate measure: the end of the special regimes. “Special diets no longer suit the reality of the country. […] I don’t want to divide the country”, with some professions privileged and others not. He further stated that he “does not rule out a referendum” for any reform.
6:58 p.m. – Le Pen or Macron? The choice of Jean Lassalle
Jean Lassalle, who gathered 3.1% of the votes cast in the first round of the presidential election, refused on Monday to give voting instructions to his voters. He posted a long statement on his Facebook page, saying he was once again “shocked” that the losers were giving voting instructions. “There is nothing more shocking than to consider the French as incapable of choosing for themselves.” However, he concluded by confiding what he will do, personally, in the second round. “I will vote blank.”
6:26 p.m. – The RN still fears abstention
Jordan Bardella, president of the RN, estimated this Monday evening on BFMTV that “Emmanuel Macron will be re-elected in 15 days if the French abstain”, urging far-right voters to mobilize at the ballot box. “If the people vote, the people win.” “I think it is time to elect and choose at the Élysée a woman for the first time from the French Republic, and above all a woman who loves the French and who respects them. Which is not the case , I believe, by Emmanuel Macron.”