‘Voting for Marine Le Pen is not an option for women’

"The future is feminist" reads a placard at a protest organised by feminist groups on the eve of Women's Day, at Paris's place de la République in Paris, March 7, 2021. © AFP (Archive)

French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to make the fight against gender inequality the "great cause" of his second term in power. Marine Le Pen promises to "stand in the way of anyone" who threatens women. FRANCE 24 spoke to several women’s rights activists about the two presidential candidates’ programmes, and looked at how feminist their manifestos actually are.

As France’s presidential election campaign heads into its final week, with Emmanuel Macron due to face off against Marine Le Pen on April 24, the two candidates’ manifestos on women’s rights are coming under increasing scrutiny from feminist groups in France.