France sets presidential election dates

French government's spokesperson Maud Bregeon holds a press conference following the weekly cabinet meeting, at the Segur building in Paris, on October 23, 2024. (AFP)

• Polls are placing the ⁠far-right ⁠National Rally in a leading position

PARIS: France will hold the first ​round of its next presidential election on April 18, 2027, with a run-off set ‌for May ‌2, ​the ‌government ⁠spokeswoman, ​Maud Bregeon, said ⁠on Wednesday following a cabinet meeting to officially approve the dates.
The race to ‌succeed ‌President Emmanuel ​Macron — ‌who cannot run ‌again after two terms — is shaping up as a ‌fragmented contest, with polls placing the ⁠far-right ⁠National Rally in a leading position, and a crowded field raising the prospect of a run-off dominated by political ​extremes.