What you need to know about the French elections - and why you need to know it

What you need to know about the French elections - and why you need to know it

Two elections, four votes, one president and a national assembly. Confused? Don't be. Here's your guide to the French elections.

While the presidential election always takes centre stage, it's the assembly election that will determine how much power the new head of state wields.

Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen, who led the way in the first round and face off for the presidency on 7 May, are candidates outside the main Republican/Socialist party system, meaning the French political system could be in for a bumpy ride.

Here's how it all works - or how it may not.


:: The French get two elections: How come?

France has a hybrid system - a president and a parliament, made up of the National Assembly (lower house) and the Senate (upper house).

Only the assembly and the president are elected by public vote. This happens every five years.

There are two separate elections: the first for the President and the second for the 577 members of the National Assembly. There's around a month in between.

:: So when do the French go to the polls?

The first presidential round was on 23 April, with frontrunners Mr Macron and Ms Le Pen recording 23.75% and 21.53% respectively.

The decider is on 7 May, with the National Assembly polls on 11 June and 18 June.

Image: France will vote four times in two elections to select the President and the National Assembly

:: But that's four times - why's that?

The two-round run off voting system.

It works like this - voters go to the polls and pick their favourite candidate, votes are counted. If no one gets 50% then the top two candidates go through to the next round a few weeks later and the one who gets the most votes wins.

So presidential round one is on 23 April, round two 7 May; National Assembly round one is on 11 June, round two on 18 June.

Image: Marine Le Pen, Francois Fillon and Emmanuel Macron are the three front runners for president

:: Who are the main presidential candidates?

Front National leader Marine Le Pen gets most of the headlines, but the run-off system leaves the far right contender facing an uphill battle in the second round against Mr Macron.

Without a main party behind him Emmanuel Macron shouldn't really have a chance at the presidency - but he does. Polls have consistently suggested that he will beat his rival in the run-off.

This election was seemingly Republican candidate Francois Fillon's to lose - but the "Penelopegate" corruption scandal involving his British wife derailed his campaign and he ended up third in the first round with 19.91%.

Support for far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon surged after he performed well in two televised debates and he was narrowly edged into fourth, garnering 19.64%.

The veteran politician and former Trotskyist, who is backed by the Communist Party, had been considered a wildcard until then.

An honourable mention goes to Benoit Hamon. As a member of the ruling Socialist party he should have been in with a decent shot, but was never really a serious contender for round two.

It's not just about the president though, there is also a parliament to consider.

:: So who is the boss - president or parliament?

The president picks his or her own prime minister and has the power to dissolve the National Assembly and call a new election so is ultimately the boss.

Parliament can impeach the president but it is a much more difficult and, therefore, unlikely process.

:: What happens if voters pick an assembly and president from opposing sides?

In practice, voters have tended to vote for a president and assembly majority from the same party or side (left wing/right wing).

But if they don't they end up with something called "cohabitation".

It has happened three times since the Second World War.

Socialist president Francois Mitterrand had a Republican Prime Minister twice. More recently (1997) Republican President Jacques Chirac ended up with Socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin.

It is a big problem if the voters chose an opposition parliament because it reduces the president to a ceremonial role. No majority in Parliament = no implementing your key reforms.

The prime minister has most executive powers, apart from defence and foreign policy.

Cohabitation had become much more unlikely since the rules were changed so presidential and assembly elections were held every five years - rather than presidents serving a seven-year term. Less chance of a mid presidential-term protest vote.

Image: Cohabitation: President Jacques Chirac and Prime Minister Lionel Jospin

:: So will there be "cohabitation" in 2017?

While it has become more unlikely for a president and a parliament to be on opposing sides, things have not quite gone to plan this year.

The two presidential candidates have little, or no, representation in the National Assembly.

Marine Le Pen's far Right Front National (FN) has only two deputes (French equivalent of MP) and Emmanuel Macron's centrist En Marche! movement has no deputes.

He only started the En Marche! "movement" in April but he has pledged to field candidates in each electoral district. He's invited "new" faces, i.e. people from civic society, to apply online to run.

Clearly FN and En Marche! candidates could make significant in-roads into the establishment Socialists and Republicans in the National Assembly elections - but not that significant.

Image: If you are president or prime minister, it's best to have the National Assembly on side

:: If the President can pick their own Prime Minister, why does it matter?

It's true the president can pick the prime minister. It doesn't even have to be a National Assembly member - as long as the person has a relevant level of experience.

Theoretically there's nothing to stop, say, Le Pen just picking a FN depute.

However, the National Assembly can overthrow the Government (prime minister and ministers).

So in practice, the prime minister does needs the support of a majority.

:: Oh

Quite. There's potential for chaos.

:: And why do we care?

Because despite leaving the EU, European leaders are now more important to us than ever because it is they the UK needs to negotiate with to get the best Brexit deal.

Le Pen, although an unlikely winner, has promised Frexit and is hostile to the EU.

Macron will be looking at Brexit as a golden opportunity to lure business from London to Paris.