Details on the calendar of the future five-year term are already emerging. Government spokesman Gabriel Attal said on Wednesday that the investiture ceremony for the head of state elected in the second round will take place no later than May 14. The installation of the new president begins with a solemn investiture ceremony, punctuated by several stages.
On the day of the investiture, the elected head of state enters the Palace through the courtyard of honor, bordered by a detachment of the Republican Guard, specifies the site of the Élysée. Then, he receives from the hands of the Grand Chancellor of the Legion of Honor the insignia of Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor. The investiture ceremony is traditionally held in the village hall of the Élysée.
After this ceremony, the president goes to the terrace of the park in the company of his Prime Minister and the presidents of the two assemblies, further notes the Elysée site. Then, military honors will be returned to the leader elected by the Republican Guard.
Handover with François Hollande, going up the Champs-Élysées, going to the military hospital in Clamart, ceremony at the Hôtel de Ville in Paris… Five years ago, Emmanuel Macron’s inauguration day started early and ended shortly before 7:30 p.m., when he finally reached the Élysée.
Four days before the second round, the polls invariably give the advantage to the outgoing president, with 54 to 56.5% of the voting intentions against 43.5 to 46% for Marine Le Pen. That is a gap of 8 to 12 points, when Emmanuel Macron won in 2017 with a lead of 32 points (66% of the votes cast against 34% for Marine Le Pen).