Yesterday 16:06

The French government rejects calls to change the date of the 2027 presidential election

Medeea Stănescu

28 October 2026, 16:06

International

Foto: Shutterstock

Always see our news on Google

The French government rejects calls to change the presidential election schedule, particularly the second round, set for May 2, immediately after May Day. The executive maintains that the vote will take place on the scheduled dates, despite the risk of further protests and social unrest following the riots and looting on October 17.

Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon said there was no reason to change the schedule and that such a decision would amount to giving in to criminals and vandals. She stressed that the law and the state must prevail.

Bregeon cited the security measures deployed during the protests on October 24, which she said prevented a repeat of the violence. The government says it will maintain the necessary measures to ensure that the election takes place under good conditions.

Calls for a postponement were made by Bruno Retailleau, leader of The Republicans party and a former minister, as well as representatives of the National Rally, a far-right party. They are calling for changes to the dates set for the first round, April 18, and the second round, May 2, because the election would take place immediately after the traditional May 1 trade union marches, which could be accompanied by political messages and violent incidents.

Context: France experienced violent protests in October, and the authorities increased mobilization to prevent their recurrence

In October, France was affected by protests that degenerated into violence, looting, and destruction in several cities, including Marseille, where public buildings were set on fire and vandalized. President Emmanuel Macron called for the scenes of “chaos” from October 17 not to be repeated, and the Government decided that future demonstration routes should be kept outside city centers to protect shops and public order.

Amid concerns about new confrontations, the authorities announced ever-larger mobilizations: the police force was reinforced, with the possibility of using special units, helicopters, water cannons, and armored vehicles, while soldiers were to protect sensitive sites. Thousands of arrests were reported at previous protests, and the newspaper also mentioned the economic impact on commerce.

At the same time, the government linked the escalation to allegations concerning the infiltration of certain groups and the influence of social media. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez acknowledged responsibility following the violence of October 17, while Macron rejected his resignation, ordering the swift implementation of measures against those involved in looting and disturbances.