French elections 2017

Four high-ranking officials out of eleven

The École nationale d’administration (ENA, National School of Administration) is usually regarded as the best way to access positions of civil power. But out of eleven candidates to the French presidential elections 2017, only four studied in the school of high-ranking officials created in 1945.

François Asselineau: the president of Union républicaine populaire passed a degree in the École des hautes études commerciales (HEC, Higher Business School).

Jacques Cheminade: the founder of the Solidarité et progress party, is also a holder of an HEC degree and a Licence in Law studies.

Nicolas Dupont-Aignan: the candidate of Debout la France is a Sciences Po Paris graduate. He is also a holder of law degree and a DESS (specialised higher studies) in business and financial markets management from the University of Paris-Dauphine.

Emmanuel Macron: The leader of the En Marche ! movement studied in "prépa" (preparatory school) for two years in the Lycée Henri-IV in Paris and passed a Masters's degree, then a DEA (higher studies degree) in philosophy in the University of Paris-Nanterre before studying in the ENA.

Criminal or Common law: the legal option

Two candidates exclusively studied law:

François Fillon: the right-wing candidate from Les Républicains holds a Master’s in common law passed in the University of Maine, and a DEA in civil law from the University Paris-Descartes.

Marine Le Pen: She passed a Masters in law and a DEA in criminal law at the Panthéon-Assas University (Paris) and a Certificat d'aptitude (certificate of competence) as lawyer in the EFB school (professional training as lawyer) in Paris.

Left-wing candidates, champions of humanities

Whether it's in History, Philosophy or Economy, left-wing candidates show deep interest in humanities and social science.

Nathalie Arthaud: the Lutte ouvrière candidate started her higher education course in sports, in volleyball) at the Auguste et Louis Lumière high school in Lyon. She is now an economy and management specialist and holder of Certificat d'aptitude (certificate of competence) as teacher in higher education (French Capes).

Benoît Hamon: the candidate from the Parti socialiste holds a Licence in History from the University of Western Brittany.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon: the founder of La France insoumise has a Licence in philosophy from the University of Besançon. He is also a holder of a Capes degree in Modern Language.

Two unusual courses

In such academic background, two candidates can be seen as underdogs:

Jean Lassalle: the leader of Résistons ! studied in a course of agricultural technician specialised in hydraulics and land planning.

Philippe Poutou: the Nouveau parti anticapitaliste candidate did not pass the baccalauréat specialised in mechanics and started working immediately.

Far from the stereotypes making us believe that all candidates have the same profile, this overview shows that all roads may lead to politics.

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