Alejandro García-Córcoles Carrascal discusses the turbulent pre-campaign for the French presidential election, highlighting the challenges faced by both the right-wing Les Republicains, with François Fillon as their unexpected candidate, and the struggling Socialist Party (PS), with President François Hollande not seeking re-election. The article also mentions Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Manuel Valls as potential figures on the left. Marine Le Pen of the National Front is seen as a strong contender, with the article suggesting that her policies may influence the right-wing agenda. The piece touches on France's desire to reclaim its international influence amidst economic instability, high unemployment, political corruption, social tensions, and the threat of terrorism. The state of emergency in France and the impact of recent terrorist attacks are also discussed, with the upcoming election seen as a referendum on Hollande's anti-terrorism policies.