The French presidential elections on 23 April and on 7 May will be decisive not only for the future of France, but also for Europe. A win for far-right Marine Le Pen would bolster populist voices already emboldened by Trump’s presidency in the US and the Brexit vote, and could spell an end to the Eurozone or even the EU itself. In this section, we look at the main candidates and their political parties, the economic and social issues facing France, as well as its future defence policy.