The last lap of the French presidential election campaign

Johannes Willms reports that none of the 12 presidential candidates can be sure of becoming the French people's "chosen one". "Not only the ups and downs of the poll results but also the rapidly changing themes in this campaign are an indication of how uncertain the outcome of the first round of the elections on April 22 still is. The discussion about national identity that flared up in late March has abated, as has the debate about domestic security triggered by the recent riots at Paris's Gare du Nord. The lack of a central theme is the predominant feature of this election campaign. On the one hand it is because of this lack that so many remain uncertain about who to vote for. On the other hand, this lack is leading candidates to try and outdo each other with promises which the voters know only too well cannot be fulfilled."

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