French far-right author Zemmour launches second presidential bid

French far-right Eric Zemmour, known for his anti-Islam and anti-immigrant stance, notes he'll be standing in next year's presidential election.

Key points

• Last month's violence has led to the soaring popularity of frontrunner Marine Le Pen, with whom Zemmour will be competing against in April 2027.
• Zemmour, a 68-year-old Jewish author and veteran television commentator, finished fourth in the 2022 presidential election.
• Le Pen, who is the leader of the far-right National Rally party, is widely projected to win the election to replace Emmanuel Macron.
• Far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon of the France Unbowed party.
• He notes he wants "two million fewer immigrants" in France.

"I can confirm to you that I will indeed be ⁠a candidate in the presidential election", Zemmour informed TF1 TV, adding that he was running to "keep a France that is French".

As well as "foreign unemployed people who have been out of work for more than six months", even if they are legal residents, this time, he notes he wants to expel foreign offenders who are in prison.

He notes he wants "two million fewer immigrants" in France. This person are seen by numerous among the far right as key instigators of violence during last month's student-led cost of living protests.

Le Pen, who is the leader of the far-right National Rally party, is widely projected to win the election to replace Emmanuel Macron. This person will end his term as president of France.

Meanwhile, far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon of the France Unbowed party. This person has been accused of encouraging the unrest, unveiled his programme on Saturday to some 17, 000 supporters.

Taken together, the developments around french far-right author Zemmour launches second presidential bid point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.