Candidate

 Emmanuel Macron should be announcing his candidacy to the

upcoming French Presidential election. He is, in fact, the last candidate

to do so; a somewhat gentlemanly gesture. In effect, the French President

is elected by universal suffrage (since 1962) and since 1958, all those

wishing to present themselves as candidates must first gather an

endorsement from at least 500 'élus' ie people already or previously

elected. He is clocking in last.

This provision was first enacted to avoid frivolous or vanity candidates.

It does not mean those who present someone necessarily support them

politically; just vouching they are acceptable as candidates. Also seen as a way

of keeping things democratic, and someone might well present a candidate they

disagree with.

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The view from Moscow:

How Russia’s Nobel-Winning Newspaper Is Covering Ukraine | The New Yorker