It might be two years but the race - albeit a marathon rather than a sprint - to be the next president of France has already started. We’ll hear about who’s in the running, who might be out of it, and who has the best chance of winning.

And we’ll tell you why US president Donald Trump is targeting a tiny French overseas territory and why Emmanuel Macron called on French companies to suspend investment in the US. 

We’ll find out about some historic French sites threatened with collapse or disappearing into the sea, like one unique fortress off the west coast that’s housed soldiers as well as tigers, snakes and spiders.

And we’ll explore some rather unknown French laws that come into force this spring that involve anything from garden hedges to dogs. Listen to the end and we might save you from being fined.

Host Ben McPartland is joined by guests Emma Pearson, Gen Mansfield and John Lichfield from The Local France.

Further reading:

• OPINION: The race to defeat the French far right in 2027 starts now
• Saint Pierre et Miquelon: Why does France have two islands off the Canadian coast?
• Macron calls for suspension of investment in US until tariffs clarified
• Fort Boyard: How France plans to save its game-show fortress
• Cars, dogs and hedges: 5 little-known rules for life in France
• Flying bells and giant omelettes: 8 ways the French celebrate Easter

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