Backgrounder: A list of candidates in French presidential elections

The French people go to the polls on Sunday to choose among 12 candidates their next president. In case none of them can get more than 50 percent of the vote, the two leading candidates will enter the second round scheduled for May 6.

Following is a list of the 12 presidential candidates and the parties they represent:

Olivier Besancenot, Revolutionary Communist League;

Marie-George Buffet, French Communist Party;

Gerard Schivardi, Workers' Party;

Francois Bayrou, Union for French Democracy;

Jose Bove, anti-globalization activist;

Dominique Voynet, Green Party;

Philippe de Villiers, Movement for France;

Segolene Royal, Socialist Party;

Frederic Nihous, the Hunting, Fishing, Nature and Traditions party;

Jean-Marie Le Pen, National Front;

Arlette Laguiller, Workers' Struggle;

Nicolas Sarkozy, Union for a Popular Movement.

Source: Xinhua