France's 2027 presidential candidates worry the EU and NATO

The leading favourites in France's 2027 presidential election are right-wing Jordan Bardella and left-wing Jean-Luc Mélenchon. Both are sceptical of both the European Union and NATO. According to polls, Bardella currently holds a clear lead.

France's presidential election takes place in 2027, and it is already becoming clear that the race for power could seriously concern both Brussels and France's transatlantic allies. According to polls, the leading favourites are right-wing Jordan Bardella and left-wing Jean-Luc Mélenchon.

Both candidates share Eurosceptic and NATO-critical positions, making them a genuine challenge to Western cohesion. Bardella, who leads the National Rally (Rassemblement National), has repeatedly questioned France's role in the European Union and its contribution to collective defence. Mélenchon, for his part, has long criticised NATO and views it as primarily an instrument of US interests.

Election polls currently give Bardella the advantage, having boosted his popularity especially through anti-migration and Eurosceptic positions. If he were to become president, France — a founding member of the EU and a nuclear power — would face fundamental shifts in foreign policy.

France's presidential election operates on a two-round system, with the first round scheduled for April 2027. Incumbent President Emmanuel Macron cannot run for a third term due to constitutional restrictions. European and NATO allies are watching France's domestic political developments with increasing concern.