The centerpiece of Zemmour’s campaign platform is a drastic reduction in immigration, with the 68-year-old former journalist promising to decrease the number of immigrants in France by two million by the end of a potential five-year term. To achieve this target, he proposes the expulsion of foreign nationals currently serving prison sentences, as well as foreign residents who have been unemployed for more than six months. Notably, Zemmour stated that these deportations would occur regardless of the individuals’ legal residency status, a policy stance that extends beyond standard immigration enforcement into the rights of long-term legal residents.
Zemmour first entered the presidential arena in 2022, where he finished fourth, securing approximately 7% of the vote in the first round. His initial campaign gained significant momentum early on due to his incendiary rhetoric against Islam and immigration, including his promotion of the “great replacement” conspiracy theory, which asserts that immigrant populations are deliberately diluting the native white population in Western countries. However, his support waned during the final stages of that campaign. In this new cycle, he faces a steeper challenge from within his own political faction.
His primary rival on the right is Marine Le Pen, the leader of the National Rally (Rassemblement National). Le Pen is widely expected to lead the field in the first round of the April 2027 election, which will determine the successor to President Emmanuel Macron. Le Pen’s path to the presidency has been complicated by legal battles; however, in July of this year, an appeals court shortened her ban from holding public office stemming from an embezzlement conviction. This legal development has cleared the procedural path for her to stand, and she views the 2027 vote as her most viable opportunity to win power, having lost to Macron in both the 2017 and 2022 run-offs.
The political context for this election is shaped by recent social unrest. Student protests over the cost of living took place last month, and many supporters of far-right forces identify immigrants as primary instigators of the violence associated with these demonstrations. Zemmour’s campaign messaging appears to capitalize on this sentiment, positioning his deportation policies as a response to public security and economic stability concerns. Meanwhile, on the left, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the candidate for the France Unbowed party, has presented his program to supporters, indicating a robust multi-candidate field for the upcoming contest.
Speculation had previously swirled around Sarah Knafo, an MEP and Zemmour’s partner, who might have been the more viable candidate for the party. Knafo’s star has been rising despite an unsuccessful bid for Paris mayor in March. Earlier this month, she published a book criticizing the state’s management of public finances, which quickly became a bestseller. However, Zemmour’s explicit declaration on BFMTV and TF1, where he stated, “I am a candidate for the presidency of the Republic,” has seemingly ended any doubt about his personal participation. Knafo’s continued prominence suggests that while Zemmour is the candidate, the Reconquête! party may rely on her influence to broaden its appeal.
Analysts note that the dynamic between Le Pen and Zemmour has shifted significantly since their previous encounters. While Zemmour once posed a tangible threat to Le Pen’s dominance of the far-right vote, his 2022 performance and the subsequent evolution of the National Rally have altered the landscape. Le Pen remains the frontrunner, but the presence of a second major far-right candidate could potentially split the right-wing vote, a dynamic that could have profound implications for the second-round run-off. The next formal step in this process will be the official filing of candidates and the commencement of the electoral campaign ahead of the April 2027 vote.
