# French presidential candidates clash in first debate ahead of election

https://mins.news/en/item/34804

- France 24, 2026-08-27 19:12 UTC
- Politics
- Original: https://www.france24.com/en/france/20260827-french-presidential-candidates-clash-at-first-debate-before-upcoming-elections

> Seven of France’s leading presidential candidates faced off Thursday in their first debate, less than eight months before the increasingly tight and crowded 2027 election to choose Emmanuel Macron’s successor. Macron, the centrist incumbent, has completed the maximum two consecutive terms.

## Related coverage

- [France: Far-right and far-left lead polls](https://mins.news/en/video/37654) — France 24 English, 2026-08-30
- [French poll predicts Le Pen victory in 2027 presidential runoff](https://mins.news/en/item/37128) — TASS, 2026-08-29
- [Bardella, Faure, Lecornu, Hollande and Philippe: France’s political season begins](https://mins.news/en/item/37052) — euronews, 2026-08-29