Chris Patten: French presidential election matters for us all 

French voters have the evidence to comprehend the evil Vladimir Putin represents. If they swing right on April 24, they cannot use ignorance as a defence, says Chris Patten

A man walks past presidential campaign posters of french president Emmanuel Macron and centrist candidate for reelection and french far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen in Anglet, southwestern France, Wednesday, April 8, 2022. Picture: AP Photo/Bob Edme

In open societies, there is a close relationship between a responsible and uncensored media on the one hand and democracy and the rule of law on the other. 

Properly informed citizens in democracies take their share of responsibility for what their government does. One must hope French voters do so on April 24 by ensuring that the incumbent Emmanuel Macron defeats Marine Le Pen, his right-wing nationalist challenger, in the second round of the country’s presidential election.