The stakes are high for Irish farmers in the French presidential election to be decided on 7 May. The future of the EU and many export opportunities hinges on whether the winner is Emmanuel Macron, of the centre, or Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right National Front.

Early opinion polls following the selection of the two frontrunners after a first round of voting last Sunday give Macron a comfortable lead, with most eliminated candidates offering him their support.

Macron is promising “a France that is open to Europe and to the world”. He argues that this should be done to “protect citizens” including farmers, with more power for producers’ organisations in price negotiations with processors and voluntary insurance schemes against price volatility or weather events.

Macron favours free trade in general. By contrast, Le Pen wants to introduce a 3% tax on imports to France, which is Ireland’s third-largest agri food market with €700m of products shipped annually.

Le Pen has pledged to exit the euro, which economists say would result in the collapse of the single currency.

She also wants to “transform the Common Agricultural Policy into a French agricultural policy”. Her presidency would see farm payments nationalised and tailored to favour French farmers, while animal welfare regulations would become stricter.

Both candidates’ programmes include the continuation of France’s current position to restrict the use of pesticides and GM crops.

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Editorial: free trade back on the political agenda