Zemmour enters 2027 race with expulsion pledge

Zemmour announces candidacy

Eric Zemmour, leader of the Reconquête! party, formally entered France's 2027 presidential race on Tuesday, saying he was standing to preserve a French France so that our future is French.

“preserve a French France so that our future is French”

Immigration reduction target

Zemmour wants two million fewer immigrants by the end of the five-year term. He came fourth in the 2022 election and went into politics five years ago as a former journalist.

Deportation plans

The 68-year-old plans to deport foreign nationals serving prison sentences and foreign unemployed people who have been out of work for more than six months, regardless of their residency status.

Earlier signals of candidacy

Zemmour had said in mid-September that he would run, though his team insisted at the time this was not yet a formal declaration of candidacy.

Le Pen's competing candidacy

Marine Le Pen of the anti-immigration National Rally is widely expected to come top in the first round. She sees the 2027 vote as her best chance yet of winning power.

Le Pen's path cleared

Le Pen lost to President Emmanuel Macron in both 2017 and 2022 run-offs. In July, an appeals court shortened her ban from public office over an embezzlement conviction, clearing the path for her to stand.