April 4 – All-candidates’ debate in France

With a little more than two weeks to go until the first round of voting, the full slate of 11 candidates seeking the French presidency will meet tomorrow for the second televised debate.

Experts from Concordia are available to comment the rise of populism in France and the place the country occupies in an increasingly divided Europe.

Antoine Rayroux, professor in the Department of Political Science, says that “depending on the outcomes of the French presidential elections, the future of the European Union hangs in the balance. Several candidates have made Europe’s revival a key priority of their program. However, a victory of far-right candidate Marine Le Pen — which is a possibility in the current context — could deal a fatal blow to the European Union.”

“The rise of populism in France, led by the Front National will have a major impact on the presidential election”, says Chedly Belkhodja, principal of Concordia’s School of Community and Public Affairs.

Antoine Rayroux 
Tel.: 514.848.2424, ext. 2179
antoine.rayroux@concordia.ca

Chedly Belkhodja
Tel.: 514.848.2424, ext. 2576
Chedly.belkhodja@concordia.ca