2017 French Presidential Election on April 23,2017 - All You Need To Know

Eleven candidates will contest the first round of voting on 23 April.

The Constitutional Council announced the final list on Saturday. March 18,2017

1)NATALIE ARTHAUD, 46, WORKERS' STRUGGLE
Economics professor who runs for the far-left Trotskyist party. Wants the voice of the workers to be heard. Won 0.5 percent of vote in 2012.


2)FRANCOIS ASSELINEAU, 59, POPULAR REPUBLICAN UNION
A member of France's elite administrative corp of finance inspectors, sovereigntist, who wants withdrawal from EU, Euro, NATO.


3)JACQUES CHEMINADE, 75, SOLIDARITY & PROGRESS PARTY
Former civil servant in economy ministry. Running in third presidential race having won 0.2 percent in 2012. Wants to break free from shackles of international finance, leave EU and drop the euro.


4)NICOLAS DUPONT-AIGNAN, 55, DEBOUT LA FRANCE
Gaullist, sovereigntist lawmaker, who won 1.8 percent of vote in 2012. Formerly of the center-right party, wants to renegotiate European treaties, reduce immigration and reconsider the euro.


5)FRANCOIS FILLON, 63, THE REPUBLICAINS
Seeking return to power for mainstream center-right after five-year hiatus. Won the ticket on proposals to slash public spending and cut state sector jobs. Social conservative from region with strong Catholic roots.


6)BENOIT HAMON, 49, SOCIALIST PARTY

Positioned to the left end of his Socialist Party. 'Big idea' is costly social welfare reform under which the state provides a no-strings monthly income to all adults.


7)JEAN LASSALLE, 61, INDEPENDENT
Centrist lawmaker. Known for a 39-day hunger strike to oppose a factory closure in his constituency. Proposes moratorium on national debt, renegotiation of European treaties, disengagement of overseas military operations
8)MARINE LE PEN,48, NATIONAL FRONT
Seeking first presidential win for far-right party her father Jean-Marie Le Pen founded in 1972 but which she has rebranded as anti-establishment party that caters to working class voters of left-wing leaning as well as anti-immigrant, anti-EU and "French-first" voters


9)EMMANUEL MACRON, 39, EN MARCHE, AN UNAFFILIATED MOVEMENT
Former investment banker, economy minister under Socialist President Francois Hollande. Created non-partisan political movement with stated goal of transcending the limits of traditional left- and right-wing parties, with policies that would combine state protection and business freedom to innovate.


10)JEAN-LUC MELENCHON, 65, LEFT PARTY
Total overhaul of political system, high tax, big spending on environmental transition, EU-hostile. "Indomitable France" grouping is backed by the country's Communist party.


11)PHILIPPE POUTOU, 49, NEW ANTICAPITALIST PARTY

Car factory worker. Like Arthaud wants to defend the rights of workers. Won 1 percent of vote in 2012.

 Unless one candidate wins more than 50% of the votes, the two leading contenders will then go through to a second round two weeks later on 7 May.

Incumbent President Francois Hollande, a Socialist, is not seeking a second term - the first French president to do so in modern history

What are the issues?

One of the overriding issues facing French voters is unemployment, which stands at about 10% and is the eighth highest among the 28 EU member states. One in four under-25s is unemployed.

The French economy has made a slow recovery from the 2008 financial crisis and all the leading candidates say deep changes are needed.

Security and immigration are also high on the agenda.

More than 230 people have died in terror attacks since January 2015 and France remains under a state of emergency. Officials fear more of the hundreds of young French Muslims who have travelled to Syria and Iraq may return to commit new atrocities.

The far-right Front National party has vowed to slash immigration and give jobs, welfare, housing and school provision to French nationals before foreigners.