Campaign Chronicles

Campaigning is over and there are no more public appearances before Sunday's presidential face-off between Socialist François Hollande, and incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy.

Last Sunday's first round whittled the 10 candidates down to two. And with just 1.5 per cent separating the top two contenders, Socialist François Hollande and incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy, the gloves are off, even if Hollande is still trying to present himself as the nation's peacemaker.

This is it! Tomorrow is voting day, the first round. Candidates wrapped up their campaigns on Friday – as they are not allowed to make public appearances the day before the vote. RFI looks back… and ahead at the second round.

This was the first of two weeks of official campaigning for France’s 10 presidential candidates. With daily appearances at rallies and in the media, this week we look at what the candidates’ body language says about their political personalities. And though it’s looking to be a two-horse race, what about those lagging behind?

The first round of France's presidential election is just two weeks away from tomorrow. This week the two frontrunners unveil details of their platforms, the Green Party looks to make a comeback and a major candidate from 2007 makes her reappearance.

As the shock of the Toulouse shootings wears off, we're getting a clearer look of how things stand approaching the first round of voting in France’s presidential election on 22 April.

This week has been dominated by the shootings and siege in Toulouse, which led most candidates to temporarily suspend their campaigning while others determinedly ploughed on.

This week, current president Nicolas Sarkozy took the lead in the polls after the biggest rally of his campaign, and all candidates submit their mayoral endorsements to officialise their candidacy.

This week, immigration comes under fire from right-wing parties, Sarkozy announces he’ll drop out of politics if he loses, and the candidates make their case for gender parity in politics. RFI brings you the latest from the campaign trail.

This week things get personal and the candidates commune with cows. RFI brings us the latest from the French presidential campaign trail.