Bertrand emerges as Macron challenger
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Former insurance salesman, Xavier Bertrand, has emerged as a leading contender for the April 2022 French presidential election between President Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen
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Xavier Bertrand
Conservative head of Hauts-de-France region has confirmed he will stand in 2022 election, although not for main right-wing faction
Les Républicains (LR) 

Marine Le Pen
Leader of far-right Rassemblement National (RN) made it to run-off vote in 2017 presidential election but was decisively defeated by Macron

Emmanuel Macron
Surged to power in 2017 with centrist La République En Marche! (LREM), but has shifted policies rightward in bid to outflank Le Pen
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2022 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION VOTING INTENTION* 

Emmanuel Macron La République En Marche! 24%

Marine Le Pen Rassemblement National  24%

Xavier Bertrand (scenario as LR candidate) 18%

10% Yannick Jadot Europe Écologie-Les Verts 

8% Anne Hidalgo Parti Socialiste

7% Jean-Luc Mélenchon La France Insoumise 

5% Nicolas Dupont-Aignan Debout la France

*IPSOS/Sopra Steria poll of 1,499 respondents conducted Jun 25-26, 2021
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Sources: AFP, Reuters, Twitter Pictures: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS