This EPC Elections Monitor assessed the outcome of the French presidential election and discussed various scenarios for the forthcoming legislative elections from a European perspective. What are the reasons for the deep political fragmentation and growing crisis in traditional political parties in France? Can this election work to reverse or reinforce the populist and Eurosceptic trend in the EU? And what will be the consequences for French politics if the legislative elections fail to produce a majority for the new president?

The electoral campaign offered voters diametrically opposed choices regarding the degree of openness of the country and was marked by numerous Eurosceptic voices. What will be France’s European policy henceforth and how will this affect Franco-German relations and the French leadership’s position in view of the German federal elections in September?

The short presentations and exchanges with the panellists were followed by an interactive discussion with the audience.

Speakers included: Yann-Sven Rittelmeyer, Policy Analyst at the European Policy Centre (EPC), Paul Taylor, Contributing Editor at Politico Europe, Quentin Dickinson, Director of the Brussels office of Radio France, Amandine Crespy, Lecturer in political science and EU studies at the Université Libre de Bruxelles