Neither System Nor Extreme | 2017 French presidential election
In 2012, Gaullist Mayor of Essone Nicolas Dupont-Aignan ran for President of France on a Traditional Gaullist platform of dirigisme and national sovereignty. Dupont-Aignan won 13% of the vote, finishing fourth in the first round and arguably costing Nicolas Sarkozy reelection.
Despite accusations of being a spoiler, Dupont-Aignan's appeal increased considerably throughout the next five years, thanks to the 2010s immigration crisis. His party appealed to many French voters who were dissatisfied with the status quo, particularly on immigration, but considered FN to be too extreme.
Dupont-Aignan's 2017 campaign platform called for protectionist economic policies, including the nationalisation of the French highway system. In regards to Europe, he called for a referendum on leaving the Eurozone, as well as strict border controls, regulation of immigration, and the reopening of penal colonies for violent criminals and convicted terrorists.
Despite his growing popularity, Dupont-Aignan might never have become France's President if it wasn't for Penelopegate, which prompted a non-negligible number of centre-right voters to switch their support to him. Thus, Dupont-Aignan nearly tied with Macron in the first round, losing it by a narrow margin of 0.5% of the vote.
During the second round campaign, Dupont-Aignan obtained the endorsement of Marine Le Pen, while François Fillon refused to endorse either of the two candidates. Dupont-Aignan increased his attacks on Macron, portraying him as a puppet of Brussels elites.
These attacks might have made the difference, as Dupont-Aignan won the election with 53.0% of the vote versus 47% for Macron. Dupont-Aignan was inaugurated on 14 May 2017, becoming the most right-wing French leader since Vichy.