Sophie Spatz alleges Gérald Darmanin coerced her into sex with promise of letter

The election of Laurent Wauquiez as leader at the weekend was an encouraging sign for a traumatised organisation

Hard right leader Laurent Wauquiez poised to take over conservative Les Républicains

French president plunged into first government crisis as four ministers step down

French president has made impressive start but big challenge is to motivate jaded voters

Level of abstention breaks all records as 58 per cent of electorate fail to vote

French elections

The party of Mitterrand and Jaurès is set to lose 90% of its nearly 300 seats

French president’s movement takes 32% of vote in first round marred by record abstention

President’s La République En Marche poised to win absolute majority in elections

Move to tackle trade unions represents the first major test of Macron’s presidency

Next month’s vote appears likely to result in young, inexperienced assembly

Men and women, politics and civil society get equal billing in new French government

Party of France’s president-elect begins assembling new kind of democracy

President-elect boosted as former socialist prime minister Manuel Valls joins ticket

If Macron wins the presidency, might he have to govern with a PM from the other side?

Paris Letter: Presidential election chat reveals the discreet charm of the bourgeoisie

Centrist has promised to end France’s two-party system designed by de Gaulle

Polls strongly back En Marche! founder for second round but he cannot get complacent

In Paris’s 12th district, only one voter is enthusiastic – and no Le Pen voter can be found

The presidential election starts on Sunday. How will it work? Who’s in the race?

Extreme right, extreme left and extreme dishonesty have characterised France’s presidential election campaign

Pollsters say voters divided between pro-globalisation and ‘fortress France’ camps

French conservative candidate in eye of ‘fake jobs’ scandal lays out European credentials

Le Pen was aggressive and sarcastic, Fillon showed poise, and Macron appeared a novice

Emmanuel Macron accused by Marine Le Pen of ‘mind-boggling emptiness’

Director of France’s oldest polling company thinks Le Pen will be defeated in run-off

Field is clear for centrist Emmanuel Macron to take on Marine Le Pen

French conservative party abandons attempted move against presidential nominee

The beleaguered conservative presidential candidate attracts thousands of supporters

Opinion poll puts centrist candidate ahead of Marine Le Pen in first round of presidential race

Supporters are fleeing Francois Fillon as Emmanuel Macron presents his manifesto

Bringing people across border is ‘an honour, not a sacrifice’, says local hero Herrou

Former French president could face year in jail or fine if convicted over election financing

Former favourite for presidency offers robust defence in fake jobs scandal

Presidential contender sinks in polls as nation agog at ‘Penelope-gate’ jobs scandal

Presidential candidates thrash out alliances while Fillon struggles with wife’s job scandals

Far-left candidate easily beats Valls in primary as Fillon struggles over scandal

Former favourite for presidency François Fillon discredited by payments made to wife

The Independent candidate has growing momentum despite Marine Le Pen’s taunts