In this week's episode, host Ben McPartland is joined by The Local France's editor Emma Pearson who brings us up to date on the latest news and talking points with just four weeks to go before the first round of voting. Emma will also help to explain why French people tend to vote differently in certain parts of the country compared to others. 

We'll also hear from The Local's political columnist John Lichfield about the possible impact of the end of most Covid restrictions in France even though cases are rising once again. He'll also look at whether President Emmanuel Macron is panicking about petrol.

Ben is also joined by French political scientist Jean-Yves Camus, an expert on the extreme right, to find out whether France as a country really has moved to the far right in recent years. Is it inevitable that the Elysée palace will one day be occupied by a president from France's extreme right?

And wel run through a few French phrases and words that it will be handy to know at election time.

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As France prepares for a battle over its political soul - and maybe also the future of Europe - The Local is launching a special election podcast featuring our expert columnist John Lichfield. 

We’ll aim to explain the upcoming French presidential election for a non-French audience – how the political system works, who the candidates are and what they stand for, the hot-button issues in France and of course the crucial question; who will win?

This week on Talking France, host Ben McPartland is joined by editor Emma Pearson, our political columnist John Lichfield and Sorbonne economics professor Claudia Senik as we look at the first week of official campaigning in the 2022 French presidential election.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.