First of all, the preference of French voters is clarified from the polls as three quarters of voting preferences tend to be gathered among center to right wing politicians. This indicates certain prevailing trends of voters such as the need for sense of security and the adjustment of France’’ foreign relations with Europe and the rest of the world.
Nevertheless, even immigration and foreign relations are associated with economic policies over unemployment, welfare state, national security and certain industries of the French economy. Especially, unemployment and social protection are fundamental issues that formulate the preferences of French voters based on the problematic figures of the first and the strong demand for the second. In this way the differentiation of candidates over these matters may shape the final outcome.
Furthermore, the single market has benefited the economic sector of services, but competition has been harmful for heavy industries in the country. Under these terms, there are two rival groups of economic magnates in the country so that each one of them is lobbying either pro-EU (Fillon, Macron) or Euroscepticism (Le Pen) candidates. As a matter of fact, powerful economic groups are the ones to dictate changes over the European status of France and its strategic foreign affairs.
Last but not least, the need of the French population for a sense of security will undoubtedly influence the preference of voters towards the candidate that enhances that sense through the policies proposed.