On France's presidential elections.

 

We talk to Charles Devellennes to digest the first round, which saw centre-right Macron and far-right Le Pen come out on top, with leftist Mélenchon missing out. How similar are Macron and Le Pen's proposals actually? And has Macron's attempts to play statesman over Ukraine affected his chances?

 

With Le Pen and Macron both going after Mélenchon's 20% of the voter share, how will each approach this challenge?

 

Readings:

Charles' twitter thread on the similarities between Macron and Le Pen

Why the French left keeps failing, Charles Devellennes, spiked

The Gilets Jaunes and the New Social Contract, Charles Devellennes

The Macron Régime: The Ideology of the New Right in France, Charles Devellennes (forthcoming)