French presidential elections - February-May 2001 A glimpse at the major candidates' campaigns. This election was full of surprises. With over 20 declared candidates everyone expected a Chirac (conservative incumbent) vs Jospin (socialist prime minister) second round face-off. But the surprise elimination of Jospin in the first round left far-right candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen facing Chirac in the second round, sparking huge anti-Le Pen demonstrations across France. Chirac was reelected with 82.5% of the votes.