{
  "id": "R44815",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "R44815",
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  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
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      "id": 460764,
      "date": "2017-04-28",
      "retrieved": "2020-01-02T14:35:54.811334",
      "title": "France\u2019s 2017 Presidential Election: In Brief",
      "summary": "French voters will elect France\u2019s next president in a runoff election scheduled for May 7, 2017. They will choose between the top two finishers of the presidential election\u2019s first round, held on April 23\u2014Emmanuel Macron of the centrist En Marche! (Moving Forward) political movement and Marine Le Pen of the far-right, nationalist Front National (National Front). \nThe presidential campaign has exposed apparent wide-scale public dissatisfaction both with the presidency of outgoing President Fran\u00e7ois Hollande and, more broadly, with a French political establishment perceived by many as self-entitled and increasingly out of touch with the French electorate. This is the first time in the history of France\u2019s Fifth Republic (established in 1958) that the top two presidential candidates represent political parties outside the mainstream. \nThe presidential candidates\u2019 calls to uproot a French political system long dominated by one large center-right and one large center-left party appear to be resonating with an electorate that has experienced a decade of economic stagnation and a series of terrorist attacks that claimed the lives of more than 240 people over the past two years. Consequently, many analysts in France and elsewhere maintain that the 2017 election could have far-reaching implications for the French political system, French society, and even the future of the European Union (EU). \nFrance, which is one of Europe\u2019s most globally engaged and militarily capable countries, is a close ally of the United States, especially in confronting common security challenges such as Islamist terrorism. Neither of the presidential candidates has explicitly advocated a significant change in France\u2019s relations with the United States. However, while Macron has criticized President Donald Trump and expressed unease about Trump\u2019s views on Europe, Le Pen advocates a nationalist policy approach that is considered similar to that of the U.S. President. \nDespite the apparent similarities between Le Pen\u2019s and President Trump\u2019s policy approaches, Le Pen\u2019s commitment to a nationalist foreign policy predicated on distancing France from the EU and NATO could have significant implications for U.S.-French relations. In this regard, Members of Congress who favor continuity in U.S.-French relations could stress the importance of stability in France\u2019s relations with the EU and NATO. By contrast, others may view the election as an opportunity to explore a new model for bilateral relations, less connected to NATO and the EU.",
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      "topics": [
        {
          "source": "IBCList",
          "id": 4786,
          "name": "Europe, Russia, & Eurasia"
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    {
      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 460448,
      "date": "2017-04-13",
      "retrieved": "2017-04-21T14:57:14.776473",
      "title": "France\u2019s 2017 Presidential Election: In Brief",
      "summary": "France is scheduled to hold the first round of what is expected to be a two-round presidential election on April 23, 2017. The second round would take place on May 7. The presidential campaign has exposed apparent wide-scale public dissatisfaction both with the presidency of outgoing President Fran\u00e7ois Hollande and, more broadly, with a French political establishment perceived by many as self-entitled and increasingly out of touch with the French electorate. Unprecedented in modern France, the two current front-runners for the presidency represent political parties outside the mainstream. \nThe leading candidates\u2019 calls to uproot a French political system long dominated by one large center-right and one large center-left party appear to be resonating with an electorate that has experienced a decade of economic stagnation and a series of terrorist attacks which claimed the lives of more than 240 people over the past two years. Consequently, many analysts in France and elsewhere maintain that the 2017 election could have far-reaching implications for the French political system, French society, and even the future of the European Union (EU).\nFrance, which is one of Europe\u2019s most globally engaged and militarily capable countries, has long been a close ally of the United States, especially in confronting common security challenges such as Islamist terrorism. None of the leading French presidential candidates has explicitly advocated a significant change in France\u2019s relations with the United States, but all\u2014with the notable exception of Marine Le Pen of the far-right, nationalist Front National (National Front)\u2014have expressed unease about the direction of U.S. policy toward Europe under President Donald Trump. \nDespite the potential for disagreements between the next French president and President Trump, most analysts suggest that the U.S.-French relationship could continue to be driven primarily by close cooperation in response to key shared security challenges. Chief among these challenges would be the fight against the Islamic State and other terrorist groups in the Middle East and North Africa. \nAt the same time, two of the main presidential candidates have advocated major shifts in France\u2019s relations with the EU and NATO. Insofar as such shifts might affect France\u2019s broader foreign policy outlook, they could have significant implications for U.S.-French relations. From this perspective, Members of Congress who favor continuity in U.S.-French relations could stress the importance of stability in France\u2019s relations with the EU and NATO. By contrast, others may view the election as an opportunity to explore a new model for bilateral relations, less connected to NATO and the EU.",
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      "typeId": "REPORTS",
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      "topics": [
        {
          "source": "IBCList",
          "id": 4786,
          "name": "Europe, Russia, & Eurasia"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "topics": [
    "European Affairs",
    "Intelligence and National Security",
    "National Defense"
  ]
}