There are just 59 days to go until voters turn out for the first round of the French presidential election and it is not even clear who will make the starting gate.
For now, all the pundits and the bookies are predicting the re-election of President Emmanuel Macron. But the real story is about how French democracy operates.
General de Gaulle designed the Fifth Republic to keep extremists out of the Elysée. So, to get into the presidential election, a candidate must present the Conseil Constitutionnelle with 500 sponsorships (parrainages) from geographically dispersed senior elected officials.
The real story is about how French democracy operates
Previously this was not a problem. Tens of thousands of mayors and thousands of more departmental and regional elected officials eligible could act as sponsors for greens, communists and even fringe monarchy or animal rights candidates. Sponsors were recruited in private, and the result was relatively easy access to the ballot for all the main candidates and plenty of others.
Now, political connections have concentrated power into the city centres and amongst the metropolitans. So
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in