Official Presidential campaign kicks off in France

01/13

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Nicolas Sarkozy - "I will be a different President" (Paris Match cover). Only a few Election posters seen before tomorrow's deadline.

02/13

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François HOLLANDE official Election 2012 poster already seen across French towns and villages.

03/13

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Marine Le Pen official Election 2012 poster already seen across French towns and villages.

04/13

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Jean-Luc MELENCHON official Election 2012 poster already seen across French towns and villages.

05/13

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Marine LE PEN official Election 2012 poster already seen in front of many town halls across France.

06/13

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In French villages the Major's office is often situated near the local church.

07/13

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2012 Presidential campaign candidate posters to be put up from tomorrow.

08/13

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François HOLLANDE official Election 2012 poster already seen across French towns and villages.

09/13

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'Votez par procuration' (vote by procuration) poster.

10/13

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François HOLLANDE official Election 2012 poster already seen across French towns and villages.

11/13

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François Hollande official Election 2012 poster already seen in front of many town halls across France.

12/13

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Marine Le Pen pre-Election posters seen in front of many town halls across France.

13/13

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François Hollande official Election 2012 poster already seen across French towns and villages.

Report current story

The French Presidential campaign officially kicks off. Ten candidates (2 ladies and 8 men including the actual President Nicolas Sarkozy) will be in the race. Posters of some candidates can already be seen across France.

Who will be the next French President?

MAJOR CANDIDATES:

- Nicolas SARKOZY - actual French President since 2007, conservative, liberal, U.M.P. (Union for a Movement Popular), his slogan: 'A strong France'.

- François HOLLANDE - P.S. (Socialist Party) candidate, winner of PS party internal elections, describes himself as a 'normal' candidate, seen as a winner in the recent polls, his slogan: 'change is now'.

- Marine LE PEN - F.N. President (Party Nationalist) founded by her father, Jean Marie Le Pen. She defends ideas of national concern in the face of immigration.

- François BAYROU - centre, Education specialist, Modem President (Democratic movement).

- Jean-Luc MELENCHON - ex P.S. member, founded the F.G. - Front de Gauche (Left Party) in 2009 which opposes liberalism and capitalism.

MINORS CANDIDATES:

- Eva JOLY - Europe Ecology Party (Green Party) candidate;

- Philippe POUTOU - syndicalist, Nouveau Parti Anticapitaliste francais (New Anticapitalism Party) candidate;

- Nathalie ARTHAUD - communist, Extreme Gauche Lutte Ouvriere (Extreme Left Party) candidate;

- Jacques CHEMINADE - Solidarité Et Progrès Party candidate;

- Nicolas DUPONT-AIGNAN - Debout la République (Up the Republic) Party candidate.

A few important dates:

9 April 2012: Official 2012 Presidential campaign kicks off
20 April 2012: End of the Official 2012 Presidential campaign
22 April 2012: First round - Presidential 2012
6 May 2012: Second round - Presidential 2012
17 May 2012: New French President starts his mandate.