The two most prominent candidates in the first round of the French elections will qualify for a second round, scheduled for April 24.


Agence France-Presse reviewed quick information about the most likely candidates and their electoral programs:


Emmanuel Macron (44 years old)


Macron has been at the forefront of international talks to support Ukraine amid the war and impose sanctions on Russia.


Economy: Macron promises is "full employment" after unemployment fell during his 2017-2022 term to its lowest level in a long time.


He wants to gradually raise the retirement age from 62 to 65 and increase the minimum monthly pension.


Migration: Macron is pushing to strengthen the external borders of the "Schengen" area, which includes 26 European countries, and seeks to create a new force to better control national borders.


Marine Le Pen (53 years old)


Chairwoman of the far-right National Assembly.


Ukraine: She admitted that the Russian attack on Ukraine changed its view of Russian President Vladimir Putin "in part", saying that he was "wrong". She says she supports the Ukrainian people, and refugees should be welcomed.


Immigration: Le Pen's plans include ending family reunification policies, restricting social benefits to the French, and deporting foreigners who have been unemployed for more than a year and other immigrants who have entered illegally.


Economy: I promised to cut taxes on energy and essential commodities. It wants to keep the minimum retirement age at 62 and raise the minimum pension.


Policies relating to Muslims: Le Pen promised to enact a law banning the wearing of the veil in all public places and banning events and financing, which is a means to spread "Islamization".


Jean-Luc Melenchon (70 years old)


Extreme left.


Ukraine: Melenchon used to call Russia "a partner," even as European governments were scrambling to find ways to avoid a Russian attack on Ukraine. Now he supports the Ukrainian "resistance" and the Russians fighting what he calls "dictatorship" in their country.


Economy: Melenchon promised to raise the minimum wage and minimum pension in France and reduce the retirement age to 60 years.


Eric Zemmour (63 years old)


A former far-right television analyst was repeatedly convicted of hate speech.

 

Ukraine: He initially said he would prefer Ukrainian refugees to stay in Poland but later supported granting them visas if they had relations with France.


Immigration: He wants to limit the granting of asylum to a minimal number of foreigners.


Policies relating to Muslims: Zammour wants a ban on wearing the headscarf in all public places and a ban on the construction of large mosques and foreign funding of the Islamic faith.


Economy: He promised to cut taxes on corporations, low-income workers and retirees with small pensions and give families a bonus for children born in rural areas. He wants to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 by 2030.


Valerie Pecres (54 years old)


Conservative Republican Party candidate.


Ukraine: Pecres denounced the Russian attack on Ukraine and demanded strict sanctions on Russia.


Policies for Muslims: Pecres want to ban headscarves for young girls and in gyms. It also wants to ban the burkini, a full-body swimsuit worn by conservative Muslim women in swimming pools.


Immigration: Pecres plans to set immigration quotas.


Economy: Pecres promised to raise the workers' salaries with low and middle incomes by 10 per cent and reduce taxes on companies and workers. It wants to raise the retirement age from 62 to 65 by 2030.