And if Emmanuel Macron, who is still procrastinating to officially announce his candidacy, had 1,050 validated signatures on Thursday, his right-wing rival Valérie Pécresse 1,249 and the socialist Anne Hidalgo 790, anger is brewing among those, like Christiane Taubira, who see their participation in the race of the Elysée compromised.

The "withdrawal" on Monday of the Radical Left Party (PRG) from the campaign of the former justice minister, who failed to rally the left despite her victory in the popular Primary at the end of January, could be the final blow for a candidate who stagnates at 5% or less in the voting intentions.

The LR candidate for the French presidential Valérie Pécresse in Paris, February 15, 2022 Geoffroy VAN DER HASSELT AFP

His supporters gathered in the collective "Taubira for 2022" are "outraged" and call for a rally on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in front of the Constitutional Council.

According to them, the former Keeper of the Seals is "threatened not to be able to present itself because of the action of the parties which are opposed frontally and violently to the citizens".

Some point the finger at the socialists.

"We refuse to see our rights confiscated in this way," they said in a statement.

If Monday evening, the Guyanese described "an incident at a crucial moment for the country".

A source close to the candidate was less optimistic: "We are not sure of being on the starting line on March 4", the closing date for the collection of precious signatures.

French presidential candidate Christiane Taubira in Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis, February 9, 2022 THOMAS COEX AFP / Archives

According to the updated list published Thursday by the Constitutional Council, the communist Fabien Roussel had 381 sponsorships, the ecologist Yannick Jadot 325, Marine Le Pen (RN) 274, the Insoumis Jean-Luc Mélenchon 258 and the far-right candidate Eric Zemmour 181.

"Need a debate"

"We recorded more than 500 promises", assured France 2 on Tuesday the spokesperson for Eric Zemmour.

"But these are not yet sponsorships. The mayors must understand that this campaign needs a democratic and fair debate", insisted Guillaume Peltier.

On the side of the National Rally, Louis Aliot indicated on Sud Radio that the RN candidate currently had 430 sponsorships.

"We must send out a democratic warning message because today we risk having a presidential election that does not really represent the forces of the country," he said.

The presidential race Kenan AUGEARD AFP

On the side of the Insoumis, we announce Tuesday "nearly 500" promises of sponsorship for Jean-Luc Mélenchon, even if "we must convert all the promises"

"I miss very little", also assured Tuesday on RTL Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, president of "Debout la France".

"I'm ahead of a lot of others and I know it's going to be tough for everyone."

The Constitutional Council must publish the new list of sponsorships on Tuesday around 5:00 p.m.

In the meantime, the campaign was on its way.

Éric Zemmour, who is trailing Valérie Pécresse in the polls, wanted to give himself an international dimension, saying on Tuesday that he had exchanged the day before by telephone with former American President Donald Trump.

The latter advised him to be "sincere".

"It seemed interesting to me to compare our views" on "the respective destinies of France and the United States caught in the turmoil of the same war of civilizations", explained the candidate.

Asked about Marine Le Pen's failure to obtain such an interview in 2017, Eric Zemmour replied: "Everyone has a chance in life".

The candidate Reconquest!

for the French presidential Eric Zemmour in Paris, February 15, 2022 Geoffroy VAN DER HASSELT AFP / Archives

Emmanuel Macron's declaration of candidacy, faced with two international crises with Ukraine and Mali, is still pending.

According to a government source, it will be "complicated" for the Head of State to be at the Agricultural Show which begins on Saturday February 26 "not yet being a candidate".

“But it is not impossible that he declares himself at the show”, adds this source, ensuring that “everything is ready for the first fifteen days of the campaign, the trips and the measurements”.

© 2022 AFP