France confirms dates for 2027 presidential election
The government chose the later timetable over an earlier option of 11 and 25 April after consultations between the Interior Ministry and political parties, with school holidays among the factors behind the decision.
President Emmanuel Macron made the final choice, with the decision countersigned by the government.
France's constitution requires the first round to be held between 20 and 35 days before the end of the sitting president's term. As Macron's second mandate ends on 14 May 2027, the first round had to fall between 9 and 24 April.
Both rounds will overlap with France's spring school holidays, but the government chose the later timetable because fewer regions will still be on holiday for the runoff on 2 May. Officials judged that would give more people the chance to vote despite the 1 May public holiday.
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The same issue prompted debate before the 2022 presidential election, when voting also took place during the spring holidays. Turnout reached 73.69 percent in the first round and 71.99 percent in the second, both lower than in previous presidential elections.
The decree calling voters to the polls will be published in France's Official Journal. The Interior Ministry must also set deadlines for voter registration and candidate nominations. Anyone seeking to run for president must first secure 500 endorsements from elected officials.
Under French law, the government must publish the final list of candidates no later than the fourth Friday before the first round. For the 2027 election, that deadline falls on 26 March, although the list could be released earlier, as it was in 2022.
The announcement of the election calendar marks a symbolic new stage in the pre-campaign, which has accelerated in recent months.
Since the municipal elections in March, Bruno Retailleau has been chosen as the candidate of the right-wing Republicans party, Jean-Luc Mélenchon has confirmed he will run for the hard-left France Unbowed and Gabriel Attal has announced his candidacy for the centrist Renaissance party.
Former prime minister Édouard Philippe is due to hold his first campaign rally in Paris on Sunday. Two days later, far-right leader Marine Le Pen is due to receive a court ruling in the case over assistants from her party, the National Rally, at the European Parliament.
A ruling barring her from standing for election for more than two years would prevent her from seeking a fourth consecutive bid for the presidency, potentially clearing the way for National Rally president Jordan Bardella to become the party's candidate.
(with newswires)