José Bové, arguably France's most eccentric presidential candidate, kicked off the final fortnight of campaigning yesterday with a televised advertisement, showing the moustachioed anti-globalisation sheep farmer explaining why voters should elect him.

Mr Bové's pitch was followed by similar clips of Frédéric Nihous, candidate for the hunting, fishing, nature and tradition party, and Gérard Schivardi, the far-left mayor of the small commune of Mailhac, who wants France to quit the European Union.