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     * France’s 2022 presidential election hopefuls race to find 500
       backers

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       backers

France’s 2022 presidential election hopefuls race to find 500 backers

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   The election takes place in April but in order to stand candidates need
   the backing of 500 elected representatives. We explain the system and
   how the main candidates fared in a recent poll
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   (Clockwise from top left): Emmanuel Macron, Marine Le Pen, Xavier
   Bertrand and Jean-Luc Mélenchon. Macron and Le Pen are favourites for
   to win the presidential elections next year Pic: Shutterstock

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   The first round of France’s presidential election will take place next
   year on April 10, but in order for a candidate to stand, they must
   receive the backing of 500 elected representatives.
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Who are the signatories?

   In the last elections in 2017, 42,000 elected representatives were
   entitled to present a candidate for the presidential election. However,
   only 14,296 signatures were given. This number has steadily been
   decreasing over time.
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   declared his or herself as a presidential candidate.

Who are the candidates for the 2022 presidential elections?

   There are currently a dozen or so people who have officially declared
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   There are currently a dozen or so people who have officially declared
   their candidacy for the presidential elections. However, some of those
   belonging to bigger parties will have to face off against other members
   of the same party in primaries.
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   Centre-right candidate Xavier Bertrand, who is the president of the
   regional council of Hauts-de-France, is also another strong contender
   in the elections.

   There will also be a run off between candidates representing the green
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The parrainages in 2017

   For the last presidential elections in France in 2017, 11 candidates
   successfully gathered 500 signatures. This was out of a total of 61
   names.
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   Marine Le Pen, who went on to face Emmanuel Macron in a second round of
   voting in the 2017 elections, received 627.

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   political parties
   politics
   presidential election
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