The Guardian view on the French presidential election campaign: only the far right will profit from division
Mainstream politicians should remember that in the battle to defeat Jordan Bardella or Marine Le Pen, unity is strength
TL;DR
- Marine Le Pen's party may field Jordan Bardella as their presidential candidate if her appeal against a fraud conviction fails.
- Jean-Luc Mélenchon has announced his intention to run for president for the radical-left party La France Insoumise.
- Numerous potential candidates are emerging on the centre-left and centre-right, leading to a crowded and unedifying spectacle.
- Early polling suggests a split vote could enable Mélenchon to reach the second round, though his divisiveness makes a unified 'republican front' against the far right problematic.
- Potential centrist candidates include former prime ministers Gabriel Attal and Édouard Philippe, while the centre-right also has declared candidates.
- The progressive end of the spectrum is confused, with internal feuding in the Socialist party and a need for smaller parties to unite behind a single candidate.
- The outcome of the election is crucial for France and Europe, with a victory for the Eurosceptic far right representing a significant turning point.