French Presidental Election 2017 – Final week of campaigning before the 1st Round: Le Pen, Macron and Mélenchon stage rival rallies in Paris

Reports and analysis of the final week of campaigning in the 2017 French Presidental Election before the first round of voting on the 23 April 2017.

Commentators saw the contest as one of the most open of recent years with four candidates in contention to be one of the two who would advance to the second round on the 7 May 2017.

Marine Le Pen
Jean-Luc Mélenchon
François Fillon
Emmanuel Macron

In total, there were eleven candidates contesting the first round - see this ESO Information Guide for details of each candidate (Slides 32-45).

On the evening of the 20 April 2017, at the time when the third and final live tv candidate debate was taking place, a suspected terrorist-related incident took place in Paris with a policeman being shot dead and two injured in the Champs Elysées.

• Primary Source

ESO: Find further information on this topic in ESO http://www.europeansources.info/advSearchLink?keyword=france%20presidential%20election%202017%20&searchOption=all

ESO: Key source: France Presidential Election 2017 http://www.europeansources.info/record/french-presidential-election-2017/

Politico, 16.04.17: Authorities to deploy 50,000 police on French election day: report http://www.politico.eu/article/french-government-to-deploy-50000-police-to-guard-polling-stations-report/

France24, 14.04.17: 'Unsubmissive' France...and other awkward political translations http://www.france24.com/en/20170414-france-politics-presidential-race-unsubmissive-awkward-translations-melenchon-macron-fillon

BBC News, 18.04.17: French election: Le Pen and Macron hold rival rallies http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39625509

The Local.fr, 18.04.17: Le Pen: 'Mass immigration is a tragedy for France' https://www.thelocal.fr/20170418/le-pen-immigration-has-been-a-tragedy-for-france

The Conversation, 19.04.17: Profile: Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the far-left candidate shaking up the French election https://theconversation.com/profile-jean-luc-melenchon-the-far-left-candidate-shaking-up-the-french-election-76384

Euro|Topics: Debates, April 2017: Tense mood in France before the elections / Election in France: Europe's moment of truth? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/177860/election-in-france-europe-s-moment-of-truth

France24, 19.04.17: Le Pen goes back to her roots on immigration as poll countdown begins http://www.france24.com/en/20170418-france-le-pen-focus-roots-immigration-presidential-election-le-monde-eu

Blog: Carnegie Europe: Stategic Europe, 19.04.17: France Teeters Between Total Collapse and Renewed Influence http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/68716

Blog: Carnegie Europe: Stategic Europe, 20.04.17: Judy Asks: Does France Need to Change? http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/68728?lang=en

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 20.04.17: A four horse race? What to expect from the French presidential election http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2017/04/20/a-four-horse-race-what-to-expect-from-the-french-presidential-election/

Spiegel Online International, 20.04.17: A Complete Breakdown. Extremists on Left and Right Push France to the Brink http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/french-presidential-election-a-battle-of-left-right-extremes-a-1143745.html

Politico, 19.04.17: French elections’ real risk: More of the same http://www.politico.eu/article/french-elections-real-risk-more-of-the-same/

BBC News, 20.04.17: French election: Candidates in last TV pitch ahead of vote http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39658606

Deutsche Welle, 19.04.17: Opinion polls tighten ahead of French presidential election http://p.dw.com/p/2bYGP

EUObserver, 21.04.17: French campaign ends in uncertainty and fear https://euobserver.com/elections/137633

EurActiv, 21.04.17: Paris shooting overshadows final day of French election campaign http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/paris-shooting-overshadows-final-days-of-french-election-campaign/

The Guardian, 21.04.17: Fears that Paris shooting will affect presidental election as first round looms https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/21/fears-that-paris-shooting-will-affect-presidental-election-as-first-round-looms

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 22.04.17: The transformation of Jean-Luc Mélenchon: From radical outsider to populist leader http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2017/04/22/the-transformation-of-jean-luc-melenchon/

BBC News, 21.04.17: French election: Accusations of Paris attack 'exploitation' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39665143

The Local.fr, 22.04.17: French voters explained: How the 47 million will vote (or not) https://www.thelocal.fr/20170422/french-voters-the-numbers-you-need-to-know

Deutsche Welle, 21.04.17: France presidential campaigning ends with security concerns after shooting http://p.dw.com/p/2biPa

Deutsche Welle, 23.04.17: France votes amid political turmoil http://p.dw.com/p/2bkEN

France24, 23.04.17: France votes in hotly contested presidential race amid tight security http://www.france24.com/en/20170421-security-heightened-french-polling-stations-amid-terror-fears-france

openDemocracy: Can Europe Make It?, 18.04.17: French tragedy or farce: the 2017 presidential election – 1 https://www.opendemocracy.net/can-europe-make-it/philippe-marli-re/french-tragedy-or-farce-2017-presidential-election-1

openDemocracy: Can Europe Make It?, 20.04.17: Amiens – a cacophony of voices https://www.opendemocracy.net/can-europe-make-it/joshua-neicho/amiens-cacophony-of-voices

CAPX, 21.04.17: France’s nightmare scenario https://capx.co/frances-nightmare-scenario/

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