A victory for Le Pen would be disastrous for research, France, and Europe
Marine Le Pen has pledged to reverse unpopular changes to research institutions. However, her presidency would have far-reaching consequences.
The last time this happened, in 2017, Macron easily won by a margin of 66 percent to 34 percent for Le Pen. However, polls predict a much closer race this time.
Macron has struggled to deliver on his promise of a new type of presidency since his then-newly formed party, La République En Marche! (Republic Forward!) smashed France's two central right- and left-wing parties in the 2017 election.
Science is rarely a significant factor in French elections, and this one is no exception. However, Le Pen is appealing to scientists by promising to repeal controversial reforms to research institutions enacted by center-right President Nicolas Sarkozy between 2007 and 2009 reforms that Macron has continued. Instead, both presidents sought to align France's university, research, and funding systems more closely with those of the United States also the United Kingdom by increasing university autonomy, improving links between academics and business, and increasing financial support for research-intensive corporations.
Sarkozy changed the law to give funders and university administrations more leeway in making decisions. His administration also provided generous tax breaks to businesses that invest in R&D.
Concerns about precarity
The state regards France's research system as a government department. Academics are classified as civil servants, with generous pensions and protection from employers who set excessive workloads.
The reforms meant that universities will be able to amend researchers' contracts, which many scientists opposed, partly because they could make employment more precarious or change job terms and conditions. Thousands of people protested in the streets. Some lawmakers also questioned whether companies need a government research subsidy, one of the highest in the European Union, worth approximately €5.7 billion (US$6.2 billion) per year, to boost their R&D.