Why do some candidates withdraw before the second round of a French election?

In the context of French elections, candidates often withdraw before the second round as a strategic maneuver known as a "withdrawal" or "désistement." This practice is primarily used to consolidate the vote against a common political opponent, such as a candidate from the far right.1

By dropping out of a race, a candidate aims to prevent the splitting of the vote among similar ideological groups. This allows supporters of the withdrawing candidate to coalesce behind a single remaining contender who is more likely to defeat the opposing candidate in the final runoff. Historically, this mechanism has been employed by centrists and parties on the left and right to unite behind a single candidate to block the National Rally (formerly the National Front) from achieving electoral success.12

This strategic behavior is a response to the French two-phase voting system, where the second round often becomes a decisive contest between the top remaining candidates. By clearing the field, parties seek to maximize the chances of their preferred outcome, prioritizing the defeat of an ideological rival over maintaining their own candidate's presence on the final ballot.21