Key facts
- French presidential election dates set for April 18 and May 2.
- Conservative candidate Bruno Retailleau claims the runoff date favors left-wing parties.
- Retailleau cited the proximity of the May 2 runoff to the May 1 Labor Day demonstrations.
- He suggested the government's decision was not neutral and politically motivated.
Conservative politician Bruno Retailleau has accused the French government of scheduling the upcoming presidential election runoff on May 2 in a way that unfairly benefits left-wing candidates. The election dates were announced on Wednesday, with the first round set for April 18 and the runoff on May 2.
Retailleau, who is running for the center-right Les Républicains party, argued that the runoff date's proximity to the May 1 Labor Day celebrations, which typically involve union demonstrations, would play into the hands of the left. He told French broadcaster CNEWS that the decision was "not a neutral one" and "not normal from a democratic standpoint."
He suggested that the May Day festivities, which have sometimes led to clashes with police, could be used as de facto campaign events by the left, leading to political repercussions. Retailleau insisted that the government's choice was effectively the left's choice.
With current President Emmanuel Macron unable to seek a third consecutive term, a number of candidates are vying for the presidency. These include former prime ministers Édouard Philippe and Gabriel Attal, and radical left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon. The far-right National Rally is currently leading in opinion polls, though its longtime leader Marine Le Pen faces a potential ban from running due to an ongoing appeal against a conviction for embezzling European Parliament funds. Her protégé, Jordan Bardella, has been suggested as a possible candidate if Le Pen is unable to run.