Jean-Marie Le Pen's unexpected runoff entry shocked France and triggered the largest presidential landslide in French history, with Chirac winning over 82% of the vote.
Key Facts
- First round date
- 21 April 2002
- Runoff date
- 5 May 2002
- Chirac's runoff vote share
- Over 82%
- Term length reduced to
- 5 years (from 7) by 2000 referendum
- Next National Front runoff
- 2017
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Incumbent President Jacques Chirac sought a second term against a crowded field dominated by left-wing candidates. Polls widely forecast a Chirac–Jospin runoff, but the fragmented left-wing vote and Le Pen's nationalist appeal were underestimated, with polling failures later blamed on the large number of left-wing candidates splitting the vote.
In the first round on 21 April 2002, Chirac and Le Pen advanced to the runoff after Jospin finished third. In response, nearly all major French parties urged voters to back Chirac over the far-right Le Pen. On 5 May, Chirac won the runoff with over 82% of the vote, the largest margin in any direct French presidential election.
Le Pen's appearance in the runoff prompted widespread national soul-searching about far-right politics and polling methods in France. Chirac secured a second term, and no French president won re-election again until Emmanuel Macron in 2022. The National Front did not reach a presidential runoff again until 2017.
Political Outcome
Jacques Chirac (RPR) won re-election with over 82% of the vote in the runoff, defeating Jean-Marie Le Pen (National Front) in the largest landslide in French presidential history.
Jacques Chirac, first term president
Jacques Chirac, second term president