The French Election – Bianco Research

The Wall Street Journal – Europe Investors Bid Adieu to Political Jitters and Begin Buying
Money flows to the continent as focus turns to economic recovery
Investors aren’t waiting for the conclusion of the French election to put money back into Europe. They are already flocking back, betting that the region has finally unshackled itself from fears of political turmoil. Local stock markets just had their best week this year following the first round of the French presidential vote, and investors have poured money into the region’s equity funds at the fastest pace since 2015. The euro climbed 1.6% against the dollar in its best week since July. All this comes as investors start to look beyond political risks and focus on the continent’s strong economic recovery.
The Financial Times – Marine Le Pen plays down anti-euro message
Far-right candidate tries to widen appeal ahead of presidential run-off
Marine Le Pen has attempted to broaden her mainstream appeal ahead of the French presidential election by signalling that her flagship policy of leaving the euro is no longer a priority. The candidate for the far-right National Front, who is opposing independent centrist Emmanuel Macron in Sunday’s run-off, has alarmed investors during her campaign by saying she would seek to renegotiate France’s relationship with the EU and call a referendum on a so-called “Frexit” from the bloc within six months. But Ms Le Pen played down her anti-euro message and softened the timetable for any exit at the weekend, saying in an interview with newspaper Sud Ouest that “if everyone is agreed we could take a year or a year and a half to organise a co-ordinated return to national currencies”.
Reuters – French voters skeptical Macron, Le Pen have answers on key issues
A week before the decisive second round in France’s presidential election, many voters are skeptical that either of the two candidates can solve chronic unemployment or tackle security concerns, a poll published on Sunday found. The Ifop survey for the Journal du Dimanche highlights two key battlegrounds as centrist presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron and far-right opponent Marine Le Pen enter a final week of campaigning – France’s economy and borders. Polls predict that Macron, a former economy minister, will win the May 7 run-off with about 59-60 percent. But the momentum has recently been with Le Pen, who has clawed back about five percentage points over the past week. According to the Ifop poll, 45 percent of voters believe the two finalists would not put an end to unemployment, which has for years stood close to 10 percent in France. And 36 percent say neither candidate is able to protect France from attacks.