Editor's note

French voters going to the polls on Sunday May 7 are being presented with two very different views on Europe. While the far-right candidate Marine Le Pen wants to take the country out of the European Union, centrist Emmanuel Macron defends the EU project.

Never has Europe been such a key issue in France, argues Richard Maher.

Fabrice Rousselot

Global Editor

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An electoral poster of Emmanuel Macron, France’s centre-left presidential candidate, calling for unity. Benoit Tessier/Reuters

French election highlights a deep divide on the European Union

Richard Maher, European University Institute

France's two presidential candidates diverge markedly on many issues, but nothing is as divisive as France's relationship with the EU.

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