Unrest in France intensifies race for the presidency
Rioting last weekend in France has pushed presidential hopefuls to say how they would restore order. The election is due next April.
France's presidential election is due next April, and the contest for the presidency has already grown more intense. The trigger was rioting last weekend, which has heightened tension in the country.
The unrest has forced those hoping to become president to answer a key question: who would be able to restore order and ease tensions in a divided French society? The Élysée Palace is the official residence of the French president, which is why the race for it is often described as the race for the presidency itself.
The situation suggests that security and public order are becoming a central theme of the campaign. The candidates' specific proposals are not detailed in the available information.
